Self-mutilation for virtue in bloody Thai festival Devotees gathered at the Chinese Bang Neow Shrine in Phuket, Thailand, on Thursday, entering a trance before having their cheeks pierced and inserted with various sharp objects, from knives to swords and rifles. They then take part in a street procession carrying idols on palanquins as fire-crackers explode, as part of the nine-day annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket. Images. ATTENTION: CONTAINS IMAGES OF SELF-MUTILATION