🌱 VeganFests

Nine Emperor Gods Festival (Penang)

📅 Sat, Oct 10 – Sunday, October 18, 2026· 9 days

📍 Multiple temples citywide, incl. Tow Boo Kong Temple, Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth, Penang🇲🇾 Malaysia

The Nine Emperor Gods Festival (九皇爷诞) is a nine-day Taoist celebration observed from the eve of the ninth lunar month, running October 10–18 in 2026. In Penang, major celebrations are held at Tow Boo Kong Temple in Butterworth (Jalan Raja Uda), Tow Boe Keong Kew Ong Tai Tay Temple at Gat Lebuh Macallum, and Tow Boo Kong Temple on Burma Road. Devotees adopt a strict vegetarian diet for the full nine days, dressing in white to symbolize purity. Streets around the temples fill with vegetarian food stalls, some operating 24 hours, offering a broad range of Chinese plant-based dishes.

Tip: Lorong Madras (Madras Lane) in Georgetown is one of the best spots for round-the-clock vegetarian street food during the festival. Look for yellow flags on stalls — these indicate certified vegetarian food.

Details

Date

Sat, Oct 10 – Sunday, October 18, 2026

9 days

🔁 Recurring — annual

Location

Multiple temples citywide, incl. Tow Boo Kong Temple, Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth

Penang

🇲🇾 Malaysia🗺 Get directions →

Organizer

Various Nine Emperor Gods temples across Penang

Tickets

Free

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