Thai Vegetarian Festival - Face Poking & Mutilation

[jcw]

I am interested to see some Thai Vegetarian Festival body mutilations. Phuket is the famous one in Thailand but I was wondering if here was anything similar in the Bangkok, Chonburi Provinces or that region of Thailand. If you are wondering what I am talking about, click on the linkI believe that it has something to do with the Thai period of “lent” where folks do not eat meat for a week or more. (Happy correct me please if I do not under stand that correctly, possibly lost in translation !) I remember that this period is heavily “practiced” in the Chinese areas. I am wondering iof they do this stuff in Bangkok’s Chinatown? (Or any else apart from Phuket for that matter)This is in a couple of weeks time I believe.

Link

[Dr Robert]

Try the emergency dept. in any Thai hospital after one of hundreds of traffic accidents - whilst there, book an appointment with one of the excellent psychiatric services there.

[Shot]

I once drove a staple right through my finger.

[Semper]

I once drove a staple right through my finger.

[Semper]

OP. Why do you want to see this?

[barefoot1988]

i have a weak stomach and the image is digusting, can someone delete that away?

i jumped in this thread failing to read mutilation, thinking its some vegetarian food party

[Rob8891]

I think that you may be in a tiny minority wanting to see sights such as this. I would be grateful if you would remove the image, (or perhaps a passing Mod might do so), in order that other people coming into this thread mistakenly will not be subjected to that appalling image.

Gross!

[nattydread]

I think that you may be in a tiny minority wanting to see sights such as this. I would be grateful if you would remove the image, (or perhaps a passing Mod might do so), in order that other people coming into this thread mistakenly will not be subjected to that appalling image.

Gross!

oh come on we live in an age where everybody sees images much more shocking than this....

or are we all supposed to show faux outrage at something that is in fact part of the culture in Thailand?

[apetley]

Gawping at mentally ill people disfiguring and mutilating themselves has nothing to do with vegetarianism.

[Songhua]

I slammed a receipt down on a paper spike once and put it straight through the palm of my hand. It didn't actually hurt so much but it took away any future desire to intentionally put skewers through my face.

Each to their own .... it's a tradition for them (not only conducted in Thailand either) but personally I find it bizarre.

Oh, and I still eat meat.

[jcw]

That image I posted was one of the more tame ones actually. I don't want to offend anyone. I don't care if Mods replace it with a link to he image, up to them.

The fist link has some grousome images of Thai self mutilation.

It is how ever part of Thai culture that is celebrated by Thais as one of the major celebrated festivals in Phuket.

Thailand is a different culture, I ave a desire to better understand the culture and why they do such things and what the significance is in their particular Buddhist belief system.

There is more to Thailand than prostitutes and alcoholism you know.

[daoyai]

To my understanding this is unique to Phuket and started from a Chinese traveling show,..... the practices are for ancient Chinese gods and not Buddah related.

[jcw]

Thank you Daoyai, from what I have rad it does confirm what you are indicating. Particualry with the Chinese related comment.

I do not understand why it is not practiced in China then ? Like wise in China town in Bangkok which a a very active place with the Vegetarian Festival.

I wonder what group of "freaks" drive them selves to do this?

Has anyone else seem this freak show else where in Thailand?

[daoyai]

I am also wondering how this festival has evolved to the extreme state, I read the Chinese performers became sick while on Phuket and simply ate veg. and performed other rituals to regain their health. I enjoy the irony of a vegetarian festival (sounds so mellow) is really a manic spirit possesed blood letting and self mutilation rite. ..... pass the bean sprouts please.

[steve down under]

I have actually seen this in Phuket a few yrs ago was sitting outside a pub with the Mrs in Phuket town and was wondering why there were so many people around the area then the fun started with many Utes passing slowly by with people with all manner of things sticking in /out from various parts of their bodies ! my mrs just couldnt look and nearly chundered on the pavement Me i just sat there slack jawed wondering why the Faaark would someone do that to themselves Especially the little guy who probably weighed about 7 stone soaking wet who had what must have been more than a 100 large hooks in his back linked to chains pulling a a truck that was loaded down with other people with multiple large piercings and knives swords what have you through their faces and tongues ... I have to say that what was remarkable was that there wasnt that much blood to be seen I'm guessing they must be in some sort of trance to block out the pain and slow down the flow of blood through their veins .

[h90]

Gawping at mentally ill people disfiguring and mutilating themselves has nothing to do with vegetarianism.

yes....helping them in a hospital would be proper...not showing them hurting themself....to tourists both domestic and international...

[jcw]

h90 : I do agree with your sentiment that they must have a screw loose in their head.

With it appearing to be isolated to Phuket that adds support that it is not really related to the true Vegi festival celebrated by Thai Chinese (Heavily in Chinatown).