The Annual Hungry Ghost Festival
The Por Tor Festival runs for a month in August or September. It’s a Chinese ghost festival, mostly observed by Phuket’s Hokkien community. The belief is that the gates of hell open and spirits of the dead return to visit the living. Families prepare food offerings at home and at shrines around the island.
We’ve been to the main celebrations at Por Tor Gong shrine in Phuket Town a few times. The shrine is dedicated to the king of hell, and the walls have old paintings showing punishments for different sins. Worth a look even outside the festival.
The Red Turtle Cakes
The most visible part of the festival is the red turtle-shaped cakes called “ang ku.” They’re everywhere during Por Tor. Red for good luck, turtle shape for longevity. You’ll see them stacked at shrines alongside roasted ducks, fruit, and other offerings.
If you want to see them being made, go to Sheng Tek Beo Shrine in the Bang Niew area of Phuket Town. Locals prepare hundreds of them. The smell of the sticky rice filling is strong. You can usually watch without getting in the way, but it gets crowded closer to the main ceremony days.
What to Expect
It’s not a tourist event. Most visitors are local Chinese families doing their annual offerings. Nobody will stop you from watching or taking photos, but be respectful around the altars and ceremonies.
The main shrine gets busy in the evenings. Lots of incense smoke, loud prayers, people burning paper money and offerings. It can feel intense if you’re not used to Chinese religious ceremonies. Kids run around, older people pray, everyone eats afterwards.
The Background
The tradition came with Hokkien Chinese immigrants who arrived during the tin mining era in the 1800s. “Por Tor” or “Sart Chin” is about remembering ancestors who died far from home, especially those who had no descendants to make offerings for them. It’s taken seriously here. Phuket has one of the largest Hokkien communities outside China.
Practical Info
Dates change each year based on the lunar calendar. Usually mid-August to mid-September. The busiest days are around the 15th day of the 7th lunar month.
Por Tor Gong shrine is in Phuket Town, easy to find. Parking is difficult during the festival. Better to walk from the old town area or grab a motorbike taxi.
More Photos of the Hungry Ghost Festival
Por Tor Schedule
Date | Hours | Location |
16 August 2024 | 09.00 - 19.00 | |
18 August 2024 | 13.00 - 24.00 | |
19 August 2024 | 09.00 - 19.00 | |
20 - 21 August 2024 | 12.30 - 17.00 | Phuket Fresh Market (Ranong Road) |
22 Aug - 2 Sept | 05.00 - 24.00 | |
23 August 2024 | 09.00 - 19.00 | |
24 August 2024 | 10.00 - 22.00 | Ta Kua Pa Road |
Phuket Events and Festivals
