"Phuket Vegetarian Festival' Photo

Photographer’s Note

The 'Phuket Vegetarian Festival' is a unique and infamous Chinese religious festival held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It's believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite.
During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Sacred rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs are performed by entranced devotees known as "Ma Song".

I had seen clips of this festival a few times before, although having been to Phuket numerous times before- I always missed it. So when I was in Phuket a few weeks ago and I found out it was coming up- I booked my ticket.
Up at 7am this morning I ventured out of the resort I'm staying at to find a taxi. Telling the driver I wanted to go to Jui Tui Temple in Phuket Town- he quickly realized why I was going and then proceeded to show my his scars from his past participation.

This is one of the first shots of the day...

Stay tuned for more...
- Dan

ls7902, Roly has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ls7902 (6388) 2009-10-24 6:13

Scary photo. More scary than the Thaipusham ritual in Batu Cave. I can see the blood still flowing a little bit. Regards. Latiff.

testmaniac (12262) 2009-10-24 6:28

Hi Dan, no doubt great photo! You had capture a great moment of this amazing festival. I like also and the perfect photo quality!

TFS and regards,
Phil

Roly (1960) 2009-10-24 6:48

A slightly disturbing image with great, vivid colors. I think you framed it too tightly, missing details that my eye seeks, such as the handle of the sword, the orange threads on his arm, and the top of his head. Always interesting to see what people are ready to do to themselves in fact also to others, for the sake of religion.

Dyerco (9310) 2009-10-25 7:45

I have never seen anything quite like this Dan. Not even in National Geographic. An excellent image and one that certainly provokes an emotional response. I like the tight crop. The humourous side,if I may, is that one sword looks like a ceremonial sword and the other looks like it came from Canadian Tire with the price tag still glued on.
Cheers
Phil
Phil

PJE (19533) 2009-10-25 13:29

Hello Dan. I have to agree with noted comments that the emotional response in viewing this goes deep. It is an excellent photo to say the least, and I do like the cropping in factor. The most disturbing is not the swords through the mouth but its the intensity of expression on his face...almost as if he is in some kind of trance to endure this. Excellent shot Daniel.

Albrecht (11223) 2009-11-21 10:05

Crazy people there I guess. Interesting to sse.
Thanks for sharing.
greetings
Albrecht