Faces pierced with badminton rackets at vegetarian festival

Religious devotees pierced their faces with badminton rackets at an annual vegetarian festival in Thailand.

The rackets were among a number of objects, including swords and knives, that Taoist worshippers pushed through their cheeks to mark the nine day festival.

Worshippers believe that by carrying out the piercing, they will be able to purify themselves and take on the sins of the community.

The festival, also known as the Nine Emperor Gods, kicked off on the island of Phuket.

A number of those taking part try to soften their pain, by working themselves into a trance during a ritual.

According to Taoist thought, each mutilation marks a sacrifice.

The festival’s origins can be traced back to 1825, when a group of Chinese travellers who fell ill, used the rituals in order to recover.

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