A THAI DEVOTEE DEMONSTRATES HIS FAITH BY CUTTING HIS TONGUE WITH A KNIFE IN PHUKET,...

A Thai devotee demonstrates his faith by cutting his tongue with a knife in the resort island of Phuket, Thailand's largest island, October 25. Usually in October, millions of Chinese and Thais begin a strictly vegetarian diet that will last for nine days. Worshippers will walk down the streets of the island expressing their belief in the Chinese Nine Great Emperor Gods by having their tongues, cheeks or other parts of their bodies pierced with anything from iron rods, hacksaw blades, pipes, or swordfishes. The bizarre ceremony of piercing and self-torture, fire-walking and knife-ladder climbing remains a spectacular demonstration of one's belief in God. PDN/CC