Devotees of the Jui Tui Chinese Shirne carry a chinese god on a palanquin as firecrackers are exploded during a procession of Vegetarian Festival on October 5, 2008, in Phuket Island, Thailand. Ritual Vegetarianism in Phuket Island traces it roots back to the early 1800's. The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days. Participants in the festival perform acts of body piercing as a means of shifting evil spirits from individuals onto themselves and bring the community good luck. ( - Photo by Chumsak Kanoknan/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Phuket
The Vegetarian Festival, held every year around October in Phuket, Thailand, is absolutely insane. Believers perform body piercing in order to move evil spirits from individuals onto themselves and bring the community good luck. Plus: fireworks!
