Bizarre piercings at Vegetarian Festival
Bizarre face-piercings to demonstrate one's devotion to their gods and ancestors are a featured part of the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival, that also includes sacrifice and spirit mediums. The Chinese community in Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore and Malaysia believe that abstinence from meat and the accompanying sacred rituals during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar help bestow good health and peace of mind. While the focus is meant to be the observance of a 10-day vegetarian diet for spiritual cleansing, the festival has become more known for the ritualized mutilations, done without anesthetic, in Phuket, Thailand.
Here, devotees of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine in Phuket are seen with spikes piercing their cheeks, October 19, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Samkong shrine walks with knives and metal objects pierced through his cheeks during a procession in Phuket, October 16, 2015. The procession of devotees takes place on the ninth day of the festival.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Ban Tha Rue shrine walks with guns pierced through his cheeks in Phuket, October 17, 2015.
The piercings are done by medical professionals at temples, with devotees going into a trance-like state to endure the pain. Scarring is said to be uncommon.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine with spikes pierced through his cheeks and lips in Phuket, October 18, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine with a shovel pierced through his cheek in Phuket, October 18, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine walks with a tricycle pierced through his cheek during a procession in Phuket, October 18, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine with his tongue pierced with a selfie stick in Phuket, October 18, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine with umbrellas pierced in his cheeks in Phuket, October 18, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine sits while his arm and cheeks are pierced in Phuket, October 19, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine walk with spikes pierced through her cheeks in Phuket, October 19, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Samkong Shrine walks with flowers pierced through his cheeks in Phuket, October 16, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festivalal
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine with a piece of a car wheel pierced through his cheek in Phuket, October 18, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine walks with guns pierced through his cheeks in Phuket, October 18, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine sits with an axe pierced through his cheek in Phuket, October 18, 2015.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine walks with a motorcycle handlebar pierced through his cheek in Phuket, October 18, 2015.