Phuket’s Hungry Ghost Festival Enters Its Grand Finale with Major Old Town Fair

One of the key stages of Phuket’s annual Po To Festival began on the evening of August 31 in Phuket Old Town.

A large festival fair opened near the shrine dedicated to Po To Kong, the ruler of the Chinese realm of the dead, marking the final major phase of the Hungry Ghost Festival. The fair will continue until September 10.

The official opening ceremony took place at 7pm. Before the event, a cultural programme was held near the Golden Dragon at the Queen Mother Sirikit 72nd Anniversary Park, followed by a street procession to the Po To Kong Shrine on Soi Saksit in Bang Niew.

Vice Governor Romdon Hadji-Awe represented the provincial administration at the opening ceremony. Phuket Town Mayor Supachok La-Ongphet also attended, along with municipal officials, including former mayor Saroj Angkanapilat, representatives of cultural and educational organisations, businesses and local communities.

The Hungry Ghost Festival itself has been taking place across Phuket since August 25. Earlier events were held at several important locations, including the shrine near the central market on Ranong Road and the Thai Hua Museum. However, the period from August 31 to September 10 is particularly significant because it is centred around the main Po To Kong Shrine and the large festival fair.

The event is also expected to affect traffic in the southern part of Phuket Road, and motorists are advised to take the celebrations into account when planning their routes.

Mayor La-Ongphet noted that Phuket’s Po To tradition was added to the province’s list of intangible cultural heritage in 2024. This year, Phuket Town Municipality is holding festival activities at six main locations while continuing to promote the celebration as part of the Old Town’s cultural tourism offering.

The municipality has also decorated several central areas of Phuket Town for the festival, including Suriyadej Circle, the small square at Chartered Intersection and the clock tower roundabout at Surin Circle.

The Po To Festival will continue throughout Phuket until September 10, with the fair around the Po To Kong Shrine serving as one of its main closing events.