Desiree Dolron

Vegetarian Festival (1991-1999)

The Vegetarian Festival is a Chinese religious celebration that takes place in Phuket, Thailand each year. It's called the Vegetarian Festival because during the 9 days of the festival, participants abstain from eating meat. But aside from the fact that vendors sell primarily vegetarian food, it has very little to do with vegetables. The main attraction is a series of processions, originating from a different Chinese shrine each day, in which the participants practice self-mutilation. They pierce their cheeks, tongues, and other parts of their bodies with everything from swords to skewers to jumbo razor blades to saxophones. It is claimed that the men (and a handful of women) who do this are in a deep trance and do not feel any pain. [India Ink]

 

 

 

 

Dutch Photogrpaher Désirée Dolron