Festival Location: Phuket, Thailand

Festival Type(s): Religious Events, Cultural Festivals, Bizarre Festivals

by © Bjorn Svensson 2009

Take a look at more wonderful photos by Bjorn of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival or visit Photos by Bjorn to see more of his striking photography from around the world.

The various sharp objects are kept in place throughout the whole procession, that lasts several hours

Not for the faint hearted, the trail of the procession is splattered by blood

Groups of mediums from the same temple often link themselves together like this

A medium in trance just about to get her cheeks pierced

A devotee wearing the traditional dress of a self-torturing spirit-medium

A helper is holding a devotee as he is getting pierced

God bearers struggling through a barrage of fire crackers

A procession of children heads the parade through Phuket town

The last night : all the processions are heading towards the Saphan Hin Beach where they symbolically will bid farewell to the Gods

During the grand finale the visibility goes down to a few meters due to all the smoke

Take a look at more wonderful photos by Bjorn of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival or visit Photos by Bjorn to see more of his striking photography from around the world.

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