Don't Forget To Eat Your Veggies

It's the ninth lunar month once again, so time for the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which means some lucky cows and chickens get a momentary lease on life and the price of tofu doubles in the commodities market.

Although the festival originated in Phuket, Thais throughout the country will "go Vegan" for the nine days of the festival, which usually occurs in October. Along with a province-wide veggie feast, the festival in Phuket is accompanied by ceremonies, parades, and fireworks. Sounds nice, right? But, in a typical Thai , Ying and Yang, self-contradictory fashion - these rather normal festival activities are then, complemented by brutal rites of self-mutilation.

While most Thais simply adjust their diet, a more devout sect called Ma Song choose to stick sharp objects through their face and parade around town. I have never been, but I see pictures of the festival every year. Friends that have joined say it's very real - no David Copperfield stunts here.

When they torture themselves, the Ma Song are supposedly in a trance, whether self-induced or drug-induced, I'm not sure, but they believe that by skewering themselves with knives, swords, crow bars, and ships, they will distract evil spirits and send them away, sparing the community from any misfortune.

Here are some pictures I found on the net. Enjoy, and if you haven't lost your appetite - don't forget to eat your veggies.