Gruesome event in Phuket dates back to 1825 when grave illness struck a visiting opera troupe from China


Swords, knives and badminton rackets were among an array of objects pushed through Taoist worshippers' cheeks as Thailand's annual Vegetarian Festival got underway on Thursday.

Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods festival, the event begins in Phuket on the first evening of the ninth Chinese Lunar month each year and takes place for nine days.

Many religious devotees slash themselves with swords and pierce their cheeks with sharp skewers for the festival, alongside committing other painful acts like walking over burning coals.

In a procession to mark the Vegetarian Festival on Thursday, devotees were seen with elaborately decorated skewers, swords, knives, and even the roots of plants piercing their cheeks and mouths.

A devotee of a Chinese shrine pushes multiple decorated skewers through his lips and cheeks during a procession for the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on Thursday

A Taoist man slashes five knives through his cheek for the religious event, which is also known as the Nine Emperor Gods festival

A young girl holds four skewers, decorated with golden heads and papers, as they pierce her lips and cheeks for the festival

The event begins in Phuket on the first evening of the ninth Chinese Lunar month each year, and takes place for nine days

Firecrackers exploded and traditional music blared from speakers as hundreds of participants marched down streets showcasing a dizzying variety of piercings.

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.

Skewers connected to model ships, a bouquet of orchids and pieces of fruit were also put to use.

Many worshippers work themselves into a trance before the piercing takes place, which is said to numb the pain of the ritualised mutilation.

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

Along the way residents offered food, water and sweets to the participants whose rituals are meant to ward off bad luck and cleanse sins.

Participants believe that each mutilation marks a sacrifice. The piercings then allow them to take on the sins of others in order to purify themselves and return favour to the community.

The celebration dates back to 1825, according to local folklore, when a visiting Chinese opera troupe fell ill. They are believed to have adopted a vegetarian diet and carried out Taoist rituals in an effort to improve their health.

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

The festival is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of tourists to the southern Thai island, according to Kanokkittika Kritwutikon, the Phuket tourism authority director.

The influx is a temporary boon for local hoteliers and businesses who are wrestling with a rare slump in Thailand's booming tourism industry.

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.

Other worshippers pushed the stems of flowers through their cheeks for the religious procession on Thursday

Many work themselves into a trance before piercing, which is said to numb the pain of the gruesome intrusion

Men carry a palanquin housing a deity through smoke in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket

Participants wear elaborate, colourful clothes as they take part part in processions during the annual Vegetarian Festival

Dozens of men in white carry a palanquin through the procession as smoke fills the air behind the busy procession

Another worshipper sits as he has a skewer pierced through his skin ahead of taking part in the busy festival on Thursday