Vegetarian Festival Video

Festival Location: Phuket, Thailand

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

Think Vegetarian Festival think hippies gyrating unrythmically, think tofu in abundance and think of all the pluses that come associated with the term "free love". If that's your take you'd be well off the mark with this annual offering on the southern Thai island of Phuket at any rate. Whilst there is a vegetarian element to the 10 day festivities held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar it's the walking barefoot over hot coals, the various body piercings and the ascending ladders with bladed rungs that are performed by entranced devotees known as "Ma Song" that so captivates western attendees. Check out the slide show which is set to some beautiful background music to learn more about this fascinating festival.