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The Phuket Vegetarian Festival which marks the beginning of the Taosit lent, celebrates the local Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat alcohol and sex, during the ninth lunar month
of the Chinese calendar, will help them obtain good health and
peace of mind. During the 9 day festival, "mediums" in a state of trance, perform acts of self-mortification, walk on hot coals, climb bladed ladders.... Young men also carry altars with deity images during street parades which are covered with fire crackers to drive away evil spirits. | Back to Portfolio

FEATURES
  Fire crackers explode on an altar during a Street Procession.
A medium performs an act of self mortification during a street parade The raising and lowering of a nine lantern pole marks the beginning of and end of the festival A fire walking cerenomy at the festival     Mediums perform acts of self mortification during a street parade     Fire crackers explode on an altar during a Street Procession. A medium climbs a bladed ladder during a special ceremony held at night. Fire crackers explode on an altar during a Street Procession.   Mediums perform acts of self mortification during a street parade A medium hands out cloths inscribed with taoist scripture A medium during the final ceremony of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival

All photography & text © Cedric Arnold All rights reserved