The louder the better. It was certainly an interesting festival to attend! After the foreign objects have been removed, the mah song are led to a shrine to have the god exorcised from their body. The grotesque piercings, noisy parades and visits to the shrine, are good news for Phuket’s tourism and bad news if you’re a vegetable. We have been experiencing some problems with subscriber log-ins and apologise for the inconvenience caused. The gift link for this subscriber-only article has expired. One man managed to put almost a dozen knife blades through his right cheek, while another held a pole with a deity that went through his lower lip. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Election Day could turn into "Election Week" with rise in mail ballots. 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. Ever since I first read about and saw photographs of this somewhat macabre festival several years ago it has fascinated me. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content, Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months*, Axe, anchor, petrol pump: Thailand's cheek-piercing vegetarian festival. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. Hell, I’ve even seen a guy with a padlock through his dick at the Kumbh Mela in India! A devotee of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine sits while his arm and cheeks are pierced in Phuket, October 19, 2015. But there is something a lot more disturbing going on for nine days during the ninth lunar month each year in Thailand. A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine sits with an axe pierced through his cheek in Phuket, October 18, 2015. What do you think? I better start accruing some spiritual merit. The procession of devotees takes place on the ninth day of the festival. I see swords, cleavers, rifles, chains and daggers inserted through people’s cheeks. As they pass, these “spirit mediums” pause at the altars to consider their offerings. We quickly came to learn these were accompanied by a lot of noise and smoke. What happens if the president doesn't accept the election results? However I haven’t managed to find out how the piercings became so extreme. The comments below have been moderated in advance. There was actually surprisingly little blood around considering what was going on! The influx is a temporary boon for local hoteliers and businesses who are wrestling with a rare slump in Thailand's booming tourism industry. A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine walks with guns pierced through his cheeks in Phuket, October 18, 2015. Here is a short video (1 minute) of a mah song coming out of his trance. It’s mind-boggling to observe. You many need to check your spam folder! A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine with his tongue pierced with a selfie stick in Phuket, October 18, 2015. Skewers connected to model ships, a bouquet of orchids and pieces of fruit were also put to use. Trump will "begin quarantine process" after Hope Hicks contracts COVID-19, Trump campaign says debate structure should not be changed, House passes COVID relief bill, but it's unlikely to pass Senate, Extremist group "emboldened" by Trump's language, ex-member says, U.S. stops holding migrant children in hotels, Texas drastically limits ballot drop off sites before election, Trump administration sets refugee cap at 15,000, a record low, 2024 primary is already in sight for Mike Pence, Military report shows steady rise in suicides, Battleground Tracker: Latest polls, state of the race and more, 5 things to know about CBS News' 2020 Battleground Tracker, CBS News coverage of voting rights issues. Some of them are mouthing prayers, others make animal noises; but it’s what the majority have done to their faces that makes this so utterly arresting. Many work themselves into a trance before piercing, which is said to numb the pain. Yes, I would. A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine walks with guns pierced through his cheeks in Phuket, October 18, 2015. 198402868E. Published: 10:36 BST, 3 October 2019 | Updated: 11:05 BST, 3 October 2019. The villagers believed it was because everyone had been so busy having fun they had failed to worship the Nine Emperor Gods. One of the more inventive types of body piercing. On one morning we followed the procession to its final point, Bang Neow Shrine. Anyone can be called to be a mah song at any point of their life, providing they are unmarried and celibate at the time of calling. Religious devotees pierce their cheeks with objects including badminton rackets (pictured) for the event alongside walking over burning coals, Participants believe these piercings allow them to take on the sins of others in order to purify themselves and return auspiciousness to the community, Another woman joined the procession with two bamboo branches pushed through her cheeks for the Vegetarian Festival, This devotee had ten knives piercing his cheek as he 'took on the sins of the community' in the annual festival, Another devotee of a Chinese shrine had a beautiful, embroidered flag piercing her cheek as she took part in the procession, During the festival, it is believed the nine Emperor Gods descend from poles located in the shrine's yards and incarnate by using the bodies of the participants as shells. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? The piercings are done by medical professionals at temples, with devotees going into a trance-like state to endure the pain. This young devotee had multiple skewers piercing her skin, decorated with beautiful pink flowers and painted figures, Others joined the procession dressed in white, which is one of ten strict principles participants adhere to in the event, Other principles include abstaining from eating meat, drinking alcohol, gambling and having sex for the nine-day event, This man has dozens of skewers and two knives piercing his face as he takes part in a daily procession on Thursday, Another man decided to pierce his cheek with the root of an Orchid, while others opted for swords, knives and branches, A devotee of a Chinese shrine holds onto two metal poles pushed through his cheeks and he looks solemnly ahead, It is believed the festival was first celebrated in the Kathu district of Phuket in 1825, after an illness struck a visiting opera troupe from China. . A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine with spikes pierced through his cheeks and lips in Phuket, October 18, 2015. Once done, the person was seemingly returned to normality and would sit down and smoke a cigarette or drink a Coke with only a plaster across their face to show for the morning’s events. This is subject to confirmation as the timing is based on the Chinese Lunar calendar. The festival happens on the first nine days of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Share gift link below with your friends and family. You can unsubscribe at any time... Kirsty, wow, these photos are amazing..! The story goes that a group of visiting Chinese opera performers fell fatally sick along with many local people. In contrast to the hubbub in the streets, the atmosphere here seems suddenly muted. So when we had the opportunity to attend this year’s celebrations, I jumped at the chance. I have a questions about the tongue hacking, what exactly was it for? The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine with a piece of a car wheel pierced through his cheek in Phuket, October 18, 2015. They’re laden with offerings for the gods being channelled by some of the parade’s participants. Election Day could turn into "Election Week" with rise in mail ballots. Scarring is said to be uncommon. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival involves extreme body piercing: men and women puncture cheeks, tongues and other body parts with a bizarre range of items. Phuket Vegetarian Festival A devotee of the Chinese Ban Tha Rue shrine walks with guns pierced through his cheeks in Phuket, October 17, 2015. We ran for cover but for the parade participants tolerating being amongst the explosions is another sign of their devotion to the gods. Participating? Participants in Phuket - which has a sizeable Chinese population - also have a bounty of vegetarian food options to choose from, as many vendors switch out meat offerings. Men and sometimes women puncture cheeks, tongues and other body parts with a bizarre collection of items including knives, guns, skewers whilst in a trance, possessed by gods. A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow shrine sits with an axe pierced through his cheek in Phuket, October 18, 2015. One man managed to put almost a dozen knife blades through his right cheek, while another held a pole with a deity that went through his lower lip. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival celebrates the beginning of Taoist Lent when devout Chinese avoid eating all meat and other vices. there was hardly any blood! Many adherents to the Chinese-heritage local festival will go without sex, alcohol and meat for the week of so of the festival. It really is quite mystifying what human beings go through to show their devotion and celebrate religious observances. Here, devotees of the Chinese Jui Tui shrine in Phuket are seen with spikes piercing their cheeks, October 19, 2015. PHUKET (AFP) - Sticking samurai swords, steak knives and even the sharpened handles of badminton racquets through their cheeks, devotees of Thailand's vegetarian festival go all out during an annual event that is both gleeful and gory. The more the merrier. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Will the King of Thailand's death affect your Thai holiday? Participants sink into a trance before skewering their faces, Some show their devotion to the gods through fire-walking, Phuket’s Jui Tui Shrine during the 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. They are hoping for a blessing from the gods that reside within mah song. Nope me neither! by Kirsty | Oct 23, 2015 | Photo Essay, Thailand | 14 comments. […] at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival Dress appropriately if you want to get close to this […], One way you can support this website is by using the links on our, All content copyright of Kathmandu & Beyond. In Bangkok we were lucky to be given some nice drinks and a soup by a local officer, that was our highlight Much less extreme! 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. Was it bloody or generally not? 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.