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Thai men force horrifyingly sharp spikes, huge knives and the barrels of guns through their cheeks as they celebrate being vegetarian

  • WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Devotees of the Chinese Samkong Shrine completed a procession in Phuket
  • Nine-day festival sees followers give up various products during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar
  • Participants believe the act of body piercing can help them shift any evil spirits and obtain peace of mind

Hundreds of men in Thailand forced horrifyingly sharp spikes, huge knives and the barrels of guns through their cheeks as they celebrated their annual vegetarian festival.

Devotees of the Chinese Samkong shrine and the Chinese Ban Tha Rue shrine walked through Phuket yesterday in a procession that worshipped abstinence from meat.

The festival, where mediums also attempt to call on spirits, sees followers give up various products during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.

Many believe their abstinence will help them obtain good health and peace of mind.

Pictures from the festival, which lasts for nine days, show men with dozens of silver spikes pierced through their lips and cheeks, while others shoved serrated metal bars and poles through their skin.

Ritual vegetarianism in Phuket is believed to have started in the early 1800s. Participants believe the act of body piercing helps to shift evil spirits.

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Hundreds of men in Thailand forced horrifyingly sharp spikes, huge knives and the barrels of guns through their cheeks as they celebrated their annual vegetarian festival


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Devotees of the Chinese Samkong shrine and the Chinese Ban Tha Rue shrine walked through Phuket yesterday in a procession that worships abstinence from meat


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Many of the men wore garlands of flowers around their necks while they shoved multiple items - including serrated metal bars - through their cheeks


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Onlookers used their phones to take pictures of the unusual display, with many of the men wearing bright outfits adorned with sequins


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A young man with intricate tattoos on his shoulders pierces one of his cheeks with two oddly-shaped daggers


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Meanwhile, a man wearing a green and gold outfit dribbled as he forced the ends of ten knives through one of his cheeks


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A young boy looked shocked as another devotee pushed dozens of long spikes through the tender skin on the side of his face


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Once completed, the boy had more than 20 silver spikes pushing into his nose and causing his mouth to bleed as he walked along


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The festival, where mediums also attempt to call on spirits, sees followers give up various products during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Above, two of the men - including one with an axe - walk through the streets in Phuket


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The area includes numerous temples, which matched the mens' colourful and intricate outfits. Above, one festival-goer uses the barrels of two guns to make holes in his cheeks


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Participants - including this young boy with a solid silver spike - believe the act of body piercing helps to shift evil spirits


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Three believers, one who appeared to have his torso stained with blood (left), hold hands as they walk through the streets


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One man allows a wooden pole to be cracked over his back. Many believe their abstinence will help them obtain good health and peace of mind


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A group of men close their eyes as fabric and debris flies through the air during the bizarre nine-day festival


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Seven women, many wearing face masks, at the side of the street react with grace and respect as the men walk in front of them during the festival

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