Devotees of the Chinese Jui Tui Shrine carry a religious statue through exploding firecrackers during a street procession at the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket, Thailand. The festival, featuring face piercing, spirit mediums and strict vegetarianism, celebrates the local Chinese community’s belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. |
