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Piercing Needles, Walking on Embers: Phuket Vegetarian Festival

Published October 6th, 2019 - 06:49 GMT

This year Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana announced that the nine days of Vegetarian Festival events are expected to generate some B2 billion in tourism revenue for the island.

Many devotees attending the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, which is celebrated for nine days on the first evening of the ninth Chinese Lunar month, slash themselves with swords and pierce their cheeks with sharp skewers for the festival. 

Moreover, participants commit other painful acts like walking over burning coals to prove their devotion, according to the daily mail.

 

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A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple skewers pierced through her cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple skewers pierced through her cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple needles pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple needles pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

A devotee of a Chinese shrine walks on ambers during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019.Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

A devotee of a Chinese shrine walks on ambers during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019.Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple needles pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019.MLADEN ANTONOV / AFP

A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple needles pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019.MLADEN ANTONOV / AFP

Children play in a car parked next to a Chinese shrine during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 2, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

Children play in a car parked next to a Chinese shrine during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 2, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

A volunteer carries empty pots at a Chinese shrine during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

A volunteer carries empty pots at a Chinese shrine during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

A devotee of a Chinese shrine with two umbrellas pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

A devotee of a Chinese shrine with two umbrellas pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP

A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple skewers pierced through her cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple needles pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine walks on ambers during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019.Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple needles pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019.MLADEN ANTONOV / AFP
Children play in a car parked next to a Chinese shrine during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 2, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A volunteer carries empty pots at a Chinese shrine during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine with two umbrellas pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple skewers pierced through her cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple skewers pierced through her cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple needles pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple needles pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine walks on ambers during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019.Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine walks on ambers during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019.Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple needles pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019.MLADEN ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine with multiple needles pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 4, 2019.MLADEN ANTONOV / AFP
Children play in a car parked next to a Chinese shrine during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 2, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
Children play in a car parked next to a Chinese shrine during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 2, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A volunteer carries empty pots at a Chinese shrine during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A volunteer carries empty pots at a Chinese shrine during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine with two umbrellas pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
A devotee of a Chinese shrine with two umbrellas pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on October 5, 2019. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days, with many religious devotees slashing themselves with swords, piercing their cheeks with sharp objects and committing other painful acts to purify themselves, taking on the sins of the community. Mladen ANTONOV / AFP
Tags:PhuketNine Emperor Gods FestivalChinese Lunar month

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