Jui Tui Shrine

Jui Tui Tao Bo Geng is a Chinese shrine is the main temple for Phuket vegetarian festival. Originally, "Jui" in Chinese means water. For "Tui," it means a white mortar. In the past, a wide canal was located in front of the shrine. Villagers agreed to build turbines in order to use the water power to pound rice after having harvested. This is the origin of the name of the shrine. This shrine usually holds a vegetarian festival in which Phuket people, Chinese, Thai people participate together. In this festival, Go Teng Pillar is annually inaugurated. In addition, 9 Chinese lanterns will be lit, which symbolically means that the vegetarian festival has commenced. Several religion-related performances show the divine power such as the spiritual mediation, walking on fire, expelling bad things by bathing in boiling oil, a ceremony to pay respect to gods as well as a procession along roads are held. The festival lasts for 9 days.

While the origins of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival are unclear, it is commonly thought that it was brought to Phuket by a wandering Chinese opera group that fell ill from a malaria epidemic. One of the performers was sent to China to invite the Nine Emperor Gods "Kiu Ong Iah" to Phuket.

The Chinese followed the tradition of refraining from eating meat, drinking alcoholic drinks, engaging in sex, quarrelling, telling lies or killing. This was to ensure the purification of the mind and body. The opera group made a complete recovery and the epidemic ceased. Since then, the people of Phuket have continued to celebrate the festival. The festival was meant to honour the gods and express the people’s happiness at surviving from a fatal illness. Subsequently, the festival has grown and developed into a spectacular yearly event in Phuket. It draws thousands of visitors each year, many of whom come from China and Asian destinations. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event held on the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, usually in September or October.

When you visit in the shrine, you will sense a great atmosphere possessing the magnificent national work of art and culture. The red and golden color is highlighted so as to give a sense of luxury and to bring good luck, according to the Chinese. Moreover, statues of Chinese gods are there for the public to pay a respect to.