VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL

The "Vegetarian Festival" is held every year in the south of Thailand over a period of 9 days. A Chinese Buddhist festival focussing on the purification of the mind and body, it originated from Chinese immigrant workers in the 1820’s. When these workers fell ill, they believed their gods had to be appeased, thus importing their homeland rituals. Modern festival participants become strict vegetarians during the festival and pay their respects at temples. The spectacular part of the festival occurs when a large number of devotees enter spiritual trances, supposedly the spirits of Chinese gods inhabit their bodies. During these trances, the devotees have metal spikes and skewers put through their cheeks. Their suffering is seen as an act of purification for the community.