Thousands of devotees in Thailand inserted sharp objects through their cheeks and other body parts to celebrate their annual vegetarian festival. The festival mainly followed by the Chinese community, falls in the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, and is spread over nine days.
The event locally known as Teskan Gin Jay, is believed to have started in the early 1800s. Devotees of the Chinese Samkong shrine and the Chinese Ban Tha Rue shrine, parade through the streets showing off their extreme body piercings. They believe that the participation will purify the mind and wash away sins.
The participants also follow few rules during the vegetarian festival such as no consuming meat, abstain from sex, no alcoholic drinks and pregnant women are not allowed to watch any rituals.
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