Here are some regular festivals, events and fairs held on Phuket.
Thao Thep Krasatri-Thao Sri Suntorn Festival
Two Heroine Sisters' Festival
When: March
Location: The monument of the heroines sisters
is held on 13 March yearly in memory of the two heroines who led the defense
of the island against the Burmese in 1785.
Seafood Festival
When: April
Held around May yearly, is designed to publicize the delicious seafood of
Phuket and attract visitors during the rainy season. Activities include
a Marine Tourism Resources Parade, seafood stalls, demonstrations of regional
cuisines and cultural shows.
Turtle Release Fair
When: 13 April
Phuket Turtle Release FairLocation: Sea Turtle Conservation Center Royal Thai Navy
is held on Songkran, the nationwide Thai water festival, on April 13. It
is also the National Fisherman's Day. Baby turtles are released into the
sea at various locations.
Songkran Festival
When: 13-15 April
The word "Songkran" is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning "passing" or "moving",
measuring the movement of the sun through the twelve astrological signs
beginning with Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius,
Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces; each passing taking approximately 30 days
through each sign. It takes a year for the sun to pass through all the signs.
This calendar is in use in India and the Southeast Asian Nations that have
been influenced by India-Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, etc. The 13th
is Maha Songkran day, the first day of the new year celebrations, when the
sun moves from Pisces into Aries, and when the lengths of the day and night
are equal.
Songkran is an important merit making period lasting three days, being
- Maha Songkran Day, last day of the old year (13th)
- Klang or Nao Day, New Year's Eve (14th)
-
New Year or Thaloengsok Day (15th)
The legend of the Songkran Goddess
When: 13 April
There is a specific goddess associated with each day upon which the Maha
Songkran Day falls i.e. Thungsa, Khorak, Raksot, Montha, Kirini, Kimitha,
and Mahothon for Monday through to Sunday, respectively. The goddesses are
the daughters of the god Maha Songkran, otherwise known as Kabinlaphrom,
who lost his head in a wager with Thammabankuman. They are tasked with carrying
his head so that it would not touch the ground lest the earth were to be
incinerated, or the air lest the rain not fall, or the oceans as they would
dry and up. So each year, the goddesses each take their turn in carrying
his head on a celestial salver.
The tradition has long been celebrated in Thailand; the celebrations
providing families with an opportunity to get together, allowing youngsters
the chance to pay respect to their elders and for the elders to bless the
younger members of the family. It is a time of community, friendship, and
renewal of ties. The community also gets a chance to pull together in making
merit and engaging in other activities such as building sand stupas, splashing
of water, and general spring cleaning of the home and temples, giving alms,
releasing of birds and fish, Nang Songkran procession, bathing buddha images,
and seeking the benediction of family elders.
Chao Le Boat Floating Festival (Sea Gypsy)
When: June and November
Location: Rawai Beach and Sapam village
falls during the middle of the sixth and eleventh lunar months yearly. The
fest is held at the
Chao Le, or
Sea Gipsy, villages in Phuket.
The Rawai and Sapam villages hold their ceremonies on the 13th; Sire village
celebrates on the 14th; and the village at Laem La (east of the bridge on
Phuket's northern tip) celebrates on the 15th. Ceremonies, which center
around the setting adrift of small boats similar to the Thai Festival of
Loy Krathong, are held at night and their purpose is to drive away evil
and to bring good luck. Fingernail clipping and strands of hair are put
in the little boats before being released, along with little dolls fashioned
from wood. Afterwards, the villagers perform their famous dance round their
own boats, called the Ram Rong Ngeng.
Por Tor Festival
When: September
Location: Katu, Chid-Chiew Shrine,Ban San Market, Por Tor Kong Shrine in Phuket Town
is held from the first through the ninth nights of the ninth Chinese lunar
month; that is, in September or October. It was first celebrated in 1825,
when a troupe of actors enacted these rites toward off a plague. Vegetarian
food is eaten by participants and white clothes worn during the period of
the fest. Self utilization is practiced by those whose bodies become the
temporary residence of powerful gods. Parades of worshippers brave fireworks
while carrying images through the street; others walk on fire or climb bladed
ladders. Participants number in the thousands. The whole forms one of the
most bizarre festivals in Thailand.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
When: September-October
Location: Saphan Hin Park
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.
It is believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those
who religiously observe this rite. During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a
10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Sacred rituals are
performed at various Chinese shrines and temples and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot
coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs are performed by entranced devotees known as "Ma Song".
Laguna Phuket Triathlon
When: November
Location: Laguna Phuket, Bang Tao Bay
Laguna Phuket Triathlon
This annual year end event sees the world's top triathletes and hundreds
of amateurs competing for prize money and placing on the world triathlon
circuit. The course, which includes swimming, bicycling, and running through
the beautiful natural surroundings of Laguna Phuket in Tambon Choeng Thale,
takes from two-and-a-half to five hours to complete.
If you are looking for accommodation during the Laguna Phuket Triathlon, please see below.
Accommodation Nearby:
Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket,
Dusit Thani Laguna Resort Hotel,
Laguna Beach Resort and
Allamanda Laguna Phuket
Phuket Travel Fair
When: 1 November
Location: Patong Beach
Phuket Travel Fair held on November 1, was first initiated in 1985 at
Patong to welcome in the tourist
season and designed to foster co-operation among tourism-related operators
both in the private and public sectors. Many colorful and interesting activities
are organized, such as merit-making in the morning, water sports contests,
a Miss Visitor Contest, among others.
Loi Krathong Festival
When: November
Location: Chalong Pier, Amphoe Talang
Loi Krathong Festival
Loi Krathong is a tradition believed to have been influenced by the Indian
Lantern or Diwali Festival, in which floats are made in worship of the three
Brahmin Gods Bhrama, Vishnu, and Shiva. The belief was adapted to fit in
with the Thai agrarian way of life, dependent upon the flow of water, changing
it into a festival where one pay obeisance to Phra Mae Khongkha, the goddess
of water. The practice became widespread nationally and internationally
in due course, and has become synonymous with the Thai Culture. While each
region will heave its own variations, the krathongs (floats) are normally
shaped as a lotus from locally available materials.
The floats are decorated with incense and candles allowed to float along
with the flow of the river. Some would put in nail clippings and strands
of hair into the krathong as well, in the belief that the sins of the past
year would be washed away; some place coins in the krathong as a way of
making merit; some wish for love. Once the krathongs are on their way there
would normally be fireworks and other festivities to be enjoyed like Krathong
Competition, and Nang Nopphamat Pageant, Loi Krathong, Games.
Phuket King's Cup Regatta
Phuket King's Cup Regatta
When: 4-11 December
Location: Kata Beach
was first held in 1987 in honor of His Majesty's 60th birthday. The King
of Thailand is a noted
boating
enthusiast and yachts come from around the world to participate in the competition,
which is the largest and most popular in Southeast Asia. It is held yearly
on the anniversary of His Majesty's birthday, 5 December. Site of the regatta
is
Nai Harn Bay.
If you are looking for accommodation during the Phuket King's Cup Regatta, please see below.
Accommodation Nearby:
Kata Beach Resort & Spa
Mom Tri's Boathouse
Katathani Phuket Beach Resort
Impiana Private Villas
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