Vegetarian festival devotees get pierced early morning at the Bang Neow shrine in Phuket, Thailand, Oct. 10, 2013.
Ritual Vegetarianism in Phuket Island traces its roots back to the early 1800's. The festival begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month and lasts for nine days.
Participants in the festival perform acts of body piercing as a means of shifting evil spirits from individuals onto themselves and to bring the community good luck.
All photos from Phuket, Thailand, Oct. 10, 2013
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets as firecrackers go off in Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets of downtown Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees bless Thai women during a parade through the streets of downtown Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets as firecrackers go off in Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees wait to join the parade through the streets of downtown Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets of downtown Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets as firecrackers go off in Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets of downtown Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees get pierced in the early morning at the Bang Neow shrine in Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees get pierced in the early morning at the Bang Neow shrine in Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets of downtown Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees parade through the streets as firecrackers go off in Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees get pierced in the early morning at the Bang Neow shrine in Phuket.
Credit: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Vegetarian festival devotees wait to join the parade through the streets of downtown Phuket.
