Trance (face piercing warning)
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival sounds so tame which may be why so few tourists were watching this spectacle. The reality is, it is bloodthirsty (to my Western eyes), eery, loud and colourful. I am so glad to have seen it. More can be found about the origins of this on the web. The people who have elected to mutilate themselves, truly believe they are possessed by a spirit – and they were definitely in some kind of trance imho.
This is, however, one of the tamest photos I took during the parade – there are many that I don’t think I should post – afterall it is dinnertime somewhere all the time!!
Things I remember seeing spiked through peoples cheeks apart from the bog standard daggers were,:
Motorbike handles
umbrella
Digital TV ariel 3 metres long
Long green beans (that really put me off dinner)
An animal’s antlers
A basket of flowers
Trance (face piercing warning) belongs to the following groups:
! All Street Portraiture And Photography !, Amazing Asia and Street Photography and Photojournalism Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
coffeetea
great capture!
Helen Phillips replied
Thanks coffeetea, it was a weird sight!
Dave Lloyd
Excellent capture. Hope you are enjoying yourself.
Helen Phillips replied
Dave, it was just the most incredible experience. You should come down next year. Thanks for your comment : )
pattihaskins
Thank you for bring your insight to rituals such as these. Another view ,strange to one cultue ,commonplace to another.
Helen Phillips replied
Thanks Patti I appreciate your comment – I am still trying to work it out, festival runs ten days and I hope to see more.
Dave Lloyd
Helen, Hi. So, did you get a little braver ?
Helen Phillips replied
Hi Dave yes, I took 260 at festival yesterday but I also have some good shots of people doing normal stuff. Will post some when I get home. Thanks for your good advice!