Feeling lucky, monk? Devotee shoves a handgun through his cheek as worshippers show devotion at Thai festival

Gruesome images show devotees with pistols and ukuleles pushed through their cheeks during Thailand's Phuket Vegetarian Festival.One man is pictured with a pistol through one cheek and a curved knife through the other, while another has the necks of two ukuleles pushed through his face, his eyes appearing to water.A third image shows two swords crossed through a man's cheeks during the annual event on the tourist island.Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, the nine-day Taoist celebration involves strict vegetarianism, purification rituals and dramatic acts of devotion by spirit mediums known as 'Ma Song'.Believed to be possessed by gods, the mediums enter deep trances and pierce their cheeks, tongues and bodies with objects ranging from swords and skewers to bicycles and umbrellas.These extreme displays are believed to drive evil spirits away from the community and bring blessings to the faithful.Those volunteering to be pierced believe they have a personal connection to one of the gods. They must apply in advance and are carefully assessed before being granted the honour.During the procession, some devotees enter a trance, their eyes rolling back as they tremble, wave and dance while dispensing blessings to crowds of hundreds. Gruesome images show devotees with a pistol and ukuleles pushed through their cheeks during Thailand's Phuket Vegetarian Festival. One man is pictured with a pistol through one cheek and a curved knife through the other Another has the necks of two ukuleles pushed through his face while his eyes appear to water A third image shows two swords crossed through a man's cheeks during the annual event on the tourist island Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, the nine-day Taoist celebration involves strict vegetarianism, purification rituals and dramatic acts of devotion by spirit mediums known as 'Ma Song' Believed to be possessed by gods, the mediums enter deep trances and pierce their cheeks, tongues and bodies with objects ranging from swords and skewers to bicycles and umbrellas These extreme displays are believed to drive evil spirits away from the community and bring blessings to the faithfulAt the festival in 2024, Sirinnicha Thampradit, 29, was among those believed to have been chosen by a god to act as a bridge between the human and divine worlds.'I felt weak, I felt numb and I couldn't control anything,' Sirinnicha, who woke before dawn to prepare for the ceremony, told AFP.She described alternating between crying and laughing, adding that possession typically occurs during the annual vegetarian festival.Despite the blood, Sirinnicha, who bears 1.5-inch scars on both cheeks from previous piercings, said she felt no pain during the procedure.'It's because I 100 per cent believe in god, and he has been protecting me for more than 10 years,' she said, recalling the first time she was possessed at the age of 17.Sirinnicha said the wounds heal within seven days and believes all members of her family have been chosen as mediums.The ceremony takes place at the Jor Soo Gong Naka shrine in honour of the Nine Emperor Gods in Taoist tradition.Participants abstain from meat and other temptations, including gambling and alcohol, to purify their bodies before offering themselves to the deities.The festival draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year hoping for blessings and good fortune. It generated more than nine billion baht ($272 million) in 2023, according to Phuket's tourism body.'Piercing is the gods' command, and these objects represent their supernatural power,' Kaweepiphat Thomya, the shrine's mediums coordinator, told AFP.He said the suffering involved is intended to cleanse participants of bad deeds, describing mediums as the gods' chosen ones.For mediums, the piercings are both an act of sacrifice and a demonstration of devotion.Traditionally, knives, needles and swords are among the objects used during the facial piercings.The growing use of more unusual items in recent years has sparked concern among shrine organisers, who have warned devotees to take precautions against infection.Thailand's Ministry of Health has reported rare injuries linked to extreme piercings, while the shrine deploys around 20 medical staff to help ensure safety during the ceremony, which dates back to the early 1800s.'We have been campaigning against unconventional items for piercing, mostly for safety purposes,' Karuna Paikaew, the official in charge of the ceremony, told AFP in 2024.