Extreme piercing cleanses souls at Thai vegetarian festival

By Agence France-Presse

Sep 29, 2022 12:07 am

PHUKET, Thailand: Taoist devotees had body parts pierced with objects ranging from skewers and swords to a model ship on Tuesday as Thailand's Vegetarian Festival returned from a two-year coronavirus pandemic hiatus.

The annual nine-day celebration honors the 'Nine Emperor Gods' and adherents shun all animal products while offering their bodies to deities who they believe will banish bad luck.

A devotee of the Kuan Tae Kun shrine with paper umbrellas pierced through his cheeks takes part in a procession during the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket, Thailand on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. AFP PHOTO

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