Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2011

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Devotees react to firecrackers as they march during a procession at the Vegetarian Festival to a shrine in Phuket. (Apichart Weerawong/Associated Press

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A devotee has his cheeks pierced as he prepares to take part in a procession. (Dario Pignatelli/Reuters

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A devotee of the Bang Neow Chinese Shrine has his cheeks pierced with knives during a street procession at the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket on Sunday. (Apichart Weerawong/Associated Press)

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A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine parades with a spear carrying pineapples piercing his cheek. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

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A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine parades with needles piercing his cheeks. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

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Devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine participate in a street procession on October 2, with two small guitars piercing hid cheeks. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

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Devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine participate in a street procession on October 2, with a shock absorber piercing his cheeks. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

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Devotee of the Bang Neow Chinese Shrine with pierced cheeks participate in a street procession at the Vegetarian Festival on Sunday. (Associated Press, Reuters

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A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine parades with knives piercing his cheeks and lips during a street procession. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

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A man pierces the arm of a devotee of the Chinese Jui Tui Shrine with needles. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images)

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Devotees of the Chinese Jui Tui Shrine offer prayers before a street procession marking the annual Vegetarian Festival on October 3. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

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Devotees of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine carry an idol on a palanquin as they take part in a street procession. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

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Devotees of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine carry an idol on a palanquin during a street procession. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

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A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine holds a gun piercing his cheek during a street procession. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

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A devotee cuts his tongue with a sword as he takes part in a procession in celebration of the Vegetarian Festival on October 2. (Dario Pignatelli/Reuters

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A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine parades with his cheeks and tongue pierced with various sharp objects during a street procession. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images)

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A devotee of the Jui Tui shrine waves a flag as she dances amidst exploding firecrackers. (Dario Pignatelli/Reuters

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A devotee of the Jui Tui shrine, with plastic tubes running through his pierced cheek, takes part in a procession on October 3. (Dario Pignatelli/Reuters) A devotee has his arms pierced with needles as he prepares to take part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011.

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A devotee of the Jui Tui Chinese Shrine, who has her cheeks pierced with the extended bow of toy boats, walks in a procession during the Vegetarian Festival on Monday. (Apichart Weerawong/Associated Press)

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A devotee of the Chinese Jui Tui Shrine parades with a sword piercing his cheek during a street procession. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images

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A devotee of one of Phuket's Chinese shrines walks on burning charcoals during a purification ceremony. (Christophe Aarchambault/AFP/Getty Images

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Devotees of the Bang Neow Chinese Shrine stand amidst exploding firecrackers as they take part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants, during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee with his cheeks pierced with umbrellas, takes part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011.

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Devotees of the Bang Neow Chinese Shrine walk through exploding firecrackers as they take part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants,during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee cuts his tongue with a sword (C) as he walks through firecrackers while taking part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants, during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. Devotees demonstrate their faith and devotion to gods by piercing themselves during the festival. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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Devotees of the Bang Neow Chinese Shrine walk through exploding firecrackers as they take part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants,during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee goes into a trance as he takes part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants, during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee with a cheek pierced with a handgun, takes part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants, during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee with a cheek pierced with a handgun, takes part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants, during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee has his cheeks pierced with swords as he prepares to take part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011. - REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee with pierced cheeks takes part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee has his lips pierced as he prepares to take part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee with pierced lips takes part in a procession in celebration of the vegetarian festival in Phuket October 2, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants, during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee walks on burning charcoals as he performs the fire walking ceremony, during celebrations for the vegetarian festival at Sapan Him shrine in Phuket October 2, 2011. - REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee runs on burning charcoals as he performs the fire walking ceremony, during celebrations for the vegetarian festival at Sapan Him shrine in Phuket October 2, 2011. - REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee runs on burning charcoals as he performs the fire walking ceremony, during celebrations for the vegetarian festival at Sapan Him shrine in Phuket October 2, 2011. -REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A group of female devotees attend the fire walking ceremony during celebrations for the vegetarian festival at Sapan Him shrine in Phuket October 2, 2011. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee performs a ritual before the fire walking ceremony, during celebrations for the vegetarian festival at Sapan Him shrine in Phuket October 2, 2011 REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee of Jui Tui shrine, with a knife through her pierced cheek, takes part in a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011. - REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee of Jui Tui shrine, with spears running through her pierced cheeks takes part in a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011. - . REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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Devotees of Jui Tui shrine carry idols amidst exploding firecrackers during a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee of Jui Tui shrine, with a knife through his pierced cheeks, holds exploding firecrackers during a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. Devotees demonstrate their faith and devotion to the gods by piercing themselves during the festival. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee of Jui Tui shrine brushes himself with burning joss sticks as he dances during a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011 REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee of Jui Tui shrine, with a spear running through his pierced cheeks, drinks from a baby bottle during a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee of Jui Tui shrine, with a knife through his pierced cheek, takes part in a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011. The festival celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. Devotees demonstrate their faith and devotion to the gods by piercing themselves during the festival. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee of Jui Tui shrine, with spears through his pierced cheeks, takes part in a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011 REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee of Jui Tui shrine, with a spear through her pierced cheeks, takes part in a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011 REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee of Jui Tui shrine pierces herself with skewers before a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011. . REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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Devotees of Jui Tui shrine, with knives and spears through their pierced cheeks, take part in a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011. . REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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A devotee of Jui Tui shrine, with an umbrella through her pierced cheek, takes part in a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011. . REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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Devotees of Jui Tui shrine carry idols amidst exploding firecrackers during a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011 REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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Devotees of Jui Tui shrine carry idols amidst exploding firecrackers during a procession celebrating the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket October 3, 2011. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli

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