Gruesome images have emerged from an annual vegetarian festival in Thailand where attendees pierce their faces with sharp objects and swords.
The ritual, which is considered a tradition at the nine-day Taoist celebration has little to do with food, instead an assault for the most devout, on the body itself.
Other ceremonies are also held to invoke the gods such as fire walking and acts of self-mortification. The spectacular scenes attracting thousands of tourists each year.
The festival is celebrated by the most devout, by piercing the skin with foreign objects
The event, known as Phuket festival, has unclear origins. It's believed that the celebration was bought to the province by a wandering Chinese opera group who fell ill with malaria while performing on the island.
During the period of suffering, the troupe decided that they should abstain from eating meat. It was during this period that the group recovered, thanking vegetarianism for their healing.
The event now celebrates the myth and focuses on the worship of the Taoist's Nine Emperor Gods. In order to achieve the blessings of these gods, devotees must adhere to a strict vegetarian diet and perform the strict rituals of purification for their body and mind, with the end result being peace of mind and good fortune.
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The festivities begin on the eve of the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar and is observed primarily in Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Myanmar.
Thai Vegetarian Festival
(01 of20)
A Thai woman holds giant incense sticks at Sung Heng Ye Chinese temple in Bangkok, Thailand Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. to mark the beginning of the Vegetarian Festival. Worshippers refrain from eating animal products during the nine-day festival. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(02 of20)
A Thai worker changes a giant incense stick with a new one at Sung Heng Ye Chinese temple in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, to mark the beginning of the Vegetarian Festival. Worshippers refrain from eating animal products during the nine-day festival. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(03 of20)
A devotee of the Chinese Shrine Bang Neow has his cheek pierced prior to a street procession at the Vegetarian Festival Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, in Phuket, Thailand. The annual festival traces its origin back to the early 1800's when Chinese tin miners and others who had been stricken with disease recovered by adhering to a strict vegetarian diet. (AP Photo/David Longstreath) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(04 of20)
Blood drips from the cheek of a devotee of the Chinese Shrine Bang Neow after having his cheek pierced prior to a street procession at the Vegetarian Festival Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, in Phuket, Thailand. The annual festival traces its origin back to the early 1800's when Chinese tin miners and others who had been stricken with disease recovered by adhering to a strict vegetarian diet. (AP Photo/David Longstreath) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(05 of20)
Twin revolvers pierce the cheeks of a devotee of the Chinese Shrine Bang Neow as he walks in a street procession at the Vegetarian Festival Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, in Phuket, Thailand. The annual festival traces its origin back to the early 1800's when Chinese tin miners and others who had been stricken with disease recovered by adhering to a strict vegetarian diet. (AP Photo/David Longstreath) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
(06 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 18: A Ma Song or a spirit medium marches down a street procession with his cheeks pierced during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 18, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(07 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 18: A Ma Song or a spirit medium marches down a street procession with his cheeks pierced during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 18, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(08 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 18: A Ma Song or a spirit medium has his cheeks pierced at Bang Neow Shrine as he prepares for a street procession during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 18, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(09 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 18: A Ma Song or a spirit medium has his cheeks pierced at Bang Neow Shrine as he prepares for a street procession during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 18, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(10 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 18: A Ma Song or a spirit medium marches down a street procession with his cheeks pierced with a rifle during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 18, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(11 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 19: A Ma Song or a spirit medium has her cheeks pierced as she prepares for a street procession at Jui Tui Shrine during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 19, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(12 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 19: A Ma Song or a spirit medium has his cheeks pierced as he prepares for a street procession at Jui Tui Shrine during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 19, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(13 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 19: A Ma Song or a spirit medium has his cheeks and lips pierced as he prepares for a street procession at Jui Tui Shrine during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 19, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(14 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 19: A Ma Song or a spirit medium has his cheeks and lips pierced as he prepares for a street procession at Jui Tui Shrine during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 19, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(15 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 19: Devotees carry the statue of the emperor god on sedan chair for a street procession during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 19, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(16 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 19: Devotees carry the statue of the emperor god on sedan chair for a street procession during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 19, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(17 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 19: A Ma Song or a spirit medium has her cheeks pierced as she prepares for a street procession at Jui Tui Shrine during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 19, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(18 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 19: A Ma Song or a spirit medium has his cheeks and lips pierced as he prepares for a street procession at Jui Tui Shrine during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 19, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(19 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 19: Fireworks go off as devotees carry the statue of the emperor god on sedan chair for a street procession during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 19, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)
(20 of20)
PHUKET, THAILAND - OCTOBER 19: A Ma Song or a spirit medium marches through a street procession during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival on October 19, 2015 in Phuket, Thailand. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, otherwise known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a Taoist celebration which takes place over nine days on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Devotees will observe strict vegetarian diet and perform sacred rituals to purify themselves. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images) (credit:Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images)