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Devotees observe Thailand's Vegetarian Festival with body piercing rituals

Devotees observe Thailand's Vegetarian Festival with body piercing rituals

By :  DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-10-21 06:23 GMT
The annual Vegetarian Festival at Phuket, Thailand, is celebrated by residents, who are mainly Chinese descendants, who observe a strict vegetarian or vegan diet that is believed to cleanse the body and grant merit. (Picture Courtesy: AP/ David
This devotee has chosen to have guns pierced through his cheeks for the celebration.
A male devotee waves a ceremonial flag after he got his face pierced prior to a street procession.
The Vegetarian Festival begins on the eve of the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is observed mainly in Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Myanmar.
The Thailand Vegetarian Festival lasts for nine days and is observed by residents of Phuket Town and the surrounding communities.
This woman at the Chinese shrine of Ban Tha Rue appears to have gone into a trance with her tongue and face pierced.
A man gets his face and arms pierced prior to a street procession. It is believed that these sacred rituals bestow good fortune on those who practice the religious rites.
People believe that devotees do not experience any pain while in the trance.
Here Thai children are seen offering prayers as they gather for a street procession.
The devotees observe sacred rituals known as "Mah Song" or "Spirit Horses". They work themselves into trances so that they'd be able to have knives, daggers, swords or other items pierced through their cheeks.
In this photo, the devotees to the Chinese shrine of Bang Liao carry a portable shrine during a street procession in Phuket, Thailand with fireworks exploding in the background.
Devotees observe Thailand's Vegetarian Festival with body piercing rituals

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