A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods marches with large poles pierced through her cheeks during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 1, 2016. Swords, axe handles, kebab skewers and even a model boat were just some of the objects placed in devotees pierced cheeks as southern Thailand's gruesome vegetarian festival got under way. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A young devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods has needles pierced through his arm during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 1, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods sits with metal rulers pierced through his cheeks during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 1, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods parades through the town of Phuket with giant metal rings through his cheeks during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods is seen with a sword pierced through his tongue during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods parades through the town of Phuket with giant lollipops pierced through his cheeks during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods is seen with a rifle through his cheek during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods is seen with multiple skewers in his face during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods parades through the town of Phuket with a bicycle attached to his cheek during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. Southern Thailand's gruesome vegetarian festival got under way on October 2 and devotees throughout the week will show their religious devotion through ritualistic self-mutilation and pain trials, including running over hot coals and piercing their bodies with an astonishing – and stomach-turning – variety of objects. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods sits with coloured yarn through large piercings in his face during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 1, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A young devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods has a large needle pushed through his cheek during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 1, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods walks with needles through her face during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 1, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods is pierced with coloured needles during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods marches with palm leaves pierced through his cheeks during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 1, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods is seen with swords through his face during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





Devotees of the Nine Emperor Gods leave a Chinese shrine in a trance during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods is seen with a large metal ring through his cheek during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods is seen with multiple skewers pierced through his mouth during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods parades through the town of Phuket decorated with needles in the colours of the Thai flag during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)





A devotee of the Nine Emperor Gods parades through the town of Phuket with recorders pierced through his cheeks during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival in the southern province of Phuket on October 3, 2016. (Photo by Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP Photo)