Prayers, piercing, purity
During the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket, devotees from the local Chinese community have their faces pierced or walk over hot coals at local shrines in the name of purification.
Going without meat, sex and alcohol in the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar also helps achieve good health and peace of mind, devotees believe.
A devotee of the Chinese Jui Tui Shrine has his arm and cheeks pierced.
Devotees of the Chinese Samkong Shrine cut their tongues with axes.
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine, with knives pierced through his cheeks, takes part in a procession.
A devotee cuts his tongue.
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine cuts his tongue with a saw.
A devotee of the Chinese Samkong Shrine walks with knives pierced through his cheeks.
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine has his tongue pierced with a selfie stick.
A devotee of the Chinese Ban Tha Rue shrine walks with guns pierced through his cheeks.
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine walks with a tricycle pierced through his cheek.
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine with a piece of a car wheel pierced through his cheek pauses during a procession.
Devotees of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine take part in a procession.
A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine sits with an axe pierced through his cheek.
Devotees of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine get ready for a procession.
A devotee of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine walks with a spike pierced through her cheeks.
A devotee of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine walks with spikes pierced through her cheeks.
A devotee of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine walks with a spike pierced through her cheeks.
Devotees of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine wait at the start of a procession.
