Devotees of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine carry a religious statue through exploding firecrackers during the annual vegetarian festival procession in Phuket October —Reuters file photo

One of the most exciting aspects of the festival are the various, (and sometimes gruesome) ceremonies which are held to invoke the gods. —Reuters file photo

Devotees of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine walk over burning coal.—Reuters file photo

A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine cut himself with a saw during a street procession of the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket —Reuters file photo

The nine gods of Chinese Bang Neow festival—Reuters file photo

A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine with two guns pierced through his cheeks takes a part in procession —Reuters file photo

A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine cuts himself on his back with an axe.—Reuters file photo

Devotees of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine carry a statue and an another devotee through exploding firecrackers.—Reuters file photo

Fire-walking, body piercing and other acts of self mortification undertaken by participants acting as mediums of the gods, have become more spectacular and daring as each year goes by. —Reuters file photo

Devotees of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine carry a pierced man through exploding firecrackers.—Reuters file photo

In 2011 some 74 people were injured with one death reported. Injuries are usually sustained from the indiscriminate use of firecrackers.—Reuters file photo

Tourists at the Chinese Bang Neow festival—Reuters file photo

A devotee of the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine is helped with his piercings before a street procession. —Reuters file photo