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Photos and Video | Daily Liberal

Photos and Video

WARNING: Some images may cause distress Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets of downtown Phuket, Thailand on October 10, 2013.  Ritual vegetarianism in Phuket Island traces it roots back to the early 1800s.  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. 

SOME IMAGES MAY CAUSE DISTRESS: Phuket, Thailand, October 16: A devotee of Ban Tha Rue runs across hot coals during a night procession at a Vegetarian Festival on October 16, 2007, in Phuket, 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 to bring the community good luck.(Photo by Chumsak Kanoknan/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 10: Vegetarian festival devotees get pierced early morning at the Bang Neow shrine in Phuket, Thailand on October 10, 2013. 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 Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 10: Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets as firecrackers go off in Phuket, Thailand on October 10, 2013. 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 Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 10: Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets of downtown Phuket, Thailand on October 10, 2013. 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 Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 10: Vegetarian festival devotees sit as they wait to join the parade through the streets of downtown Phuket, Thailand on October 10, 2013. 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 Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 10: Vegetarian festival devotees bless Thai women during a parade through the streets of downtown Phuket, Thailand on October 10, 2013. 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 Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 5:Thai people pay their respects at the Chinese shrine of The Bang Neowduring 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)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 5: Thai people pay their respects at the Chinese shrine of The Bang Neow 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)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 5: A devotee of the Chinese shrine of Jui Tui, pierces his cheeks with swords 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)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 5: Devotees of the Chinese shrine of Jui Tui, pierce their cheeks with swords 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)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 5: A devotees of the Chinese shrine of Jui Tui gets his cheekes pierced by skewers 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)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 17:A girl look at devotee of the Chinese shrine of Jui Tui pierces her cheek with metal spike during a procession of Vegetarian Festival on October 17, 2007, 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)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 16: A devotee of the Chinese shrine of The Bang Neow has his cheek pierced during the procession of the Vegetarian Festival on October 16, 2007 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)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 16: A devotee of Ban Tha Rue runs across hot coals during a night procession at a Vegetarian Festival on October 16, 2007, in Phuket, 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 to bring the community good luck.(Photo by Chumsak Kanoknan/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 16: A devotee of the Chinese shrine of The Bang Neow is pierced by a sword in his cheek through his mouth during a procession of the Vegetarian Festival on October 16, 2007 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)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 16: A devotee of the Chinese shrine of The Bang Neow has his cheek pierced during a procession of the Vegetarian Festival on October 16, 2007 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)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 18: Devotees take part in a fire walking ritual on October 18, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The annual Vegetarian Festival is celebrated by the Thai Chinese on Phuket Island. During the festival, many participants enter a trance-like state and participate in ritual mutilation as a sign of devotion and veneration to the Nine Emperor Gods. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 18: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content.) A devotee has his cheeks pierced at Bang Neow Shrine on October 18, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The annual Vegetarian Festival is celebrated by the Thai Chinese on Phuket Island. During the festival, many participants enter a trance-like state and participate in ritual mutilation as a sign of devotion and veneration to the Nine Emperor Gods. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 1: A Devotee at the Chinese Shrine Gim Tsu Ong, works himself out of a trance like state and is helped by others following fire walking ceremonies on October 1, 2014 in Phuket, Thailand. Ritual Vegetarianism in Phuket Island traces its roots back to the early 1800's. The annual 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. Fire walking is performed under a trance-like state and is carefully supervised. (Photo by David Longstreath/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - SEPTEMBER 30: A vegetarian festival devotee prepares himself to get off the needles of his face after a parade through the downtown streets at Jui Tui shrine on September 30, 2014 in Phuket, Thailand. Ritual Vegetarianism in Phuket Island traces its roots back to the early 1800's. The annual 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. The ritualized mutilation is performed at a local Buddhist shrine under a trance-like state and is carefully supervised. (Photo by Borja Sanchez-Trillo/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Vegetarian festival devotees of Jui Tui shrine parade through the streets on September 30, 2014 in Phuket, Thailand. Ritual Vegetarianism in Phuket Island traces its roots back to the early 1800's. The annual 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. The ritualized mutilation is performed at a local Buddhist shrine under a trance-like state and is carefully supervised. (Photo by Borja Sanchez-Trillo/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - SEPTEMBER 30: A devotee from the Chinese Shrine of Jui Tui walks in a street procession on September 30, 2014 in Phuket, Thailand. Ritual Vegetarianism in Phuket Island traces its roots back to the early 1800's. The annual 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. The ritualized mutilation is performed at a local Buddhist shrine under a trance-like state and is carefully supervised. (Photo by David Longstreath/Getty Images)

PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 11: A Vegetarian festival devotee gets pierced at a Buddhist shrine on October 11, 2013 in Phuket, Thailand. Ritual Vegetarianism in Phuket Island traces it roots back to the early 1800's. The annual 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. The ritualized mutilation is performed at a local Buddhist shrine under a trance-like state and is careful supervised. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

WARNING: Some images may cause distress

Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets of downtown Phuket, Thailand on October 10, 2013.

Ritual vegetarianism in Phuket Island traces it roots back to the early 1800s.

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.

Phuket Vegetarian Festival | photos

Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets of downtown Phuket, Thailand.

Phuket Vegetarian Festival | photos

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