Phuket: The procession of the Buddha image around the city, or the Iu Keng ceremony, at this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival was extremely lively, especially at important landmarks in Phuket’s Old Town.

According to Thai News Agency, on the second day of the city procession, or Iu Keng ceremony, during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2025, the procession featured the image of the Sapam and Bang Khu shrines, where they were transported to the tip of Saphan Hin and Proat, where incense and candle smoke were brought. Male and female spirit mediums pierced the bodies of the participants with sharp objects or various weapons, attempting to take the ill fortune away. Along the procession route, many people, dressed in white, set up tables to greet the procession in front of their homes and office buildings. This was particularly evident at the Charter Bank intersection, a prominent landmark, due to the holiday season and the pleasant weather conditions.

The procession of the Buddha image around the city, or Iu Keng, is a ceremony that imitates the royal journey to bless animals or visit the people, according to traditional beliefs.