The Nine Emperor Gods Festival is an annual 9-day Taoist event celebrating the return from heaven to earth the nine emperor deities. Celebrations commence on the eve of the 9th moon Chinese lunar calendar (typically October timeframe) with a ceremony to invoke and welcome the deities and reaches its climax on the 9th day with the famous charcoal fire walking ceremony where Taoist priests lead devotees to walk over a raging fire and embering charcoal mound to affirm their belief and faith in their Nine Emperor Gods after a month long prayer and rituals observation.