Devotees are seen eating non-meat ad vegan street food at a religious festival in southern Thailand. Thai-Chinese followers of the Taoist religion took part in the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket in the south of the country. Footage shows the colourful event at night time with hundreds of stalls selling food, which has to be vegetarian. Followers believe that refraining from meat and other 'sins' for nine days helps to purify their spirits. In one of the other highlights of the vegetarian festival, followers enter a trance in which they are possessed by the Gods, before their pierce their faces with skewers. According to locals, the ritual started in the 19th century when a Chinese opera group visiting the island fell ill with a malaria epidemic. The musical troop were doomed until they began worshipping the Nine Emperor Gods and cleansing their bodies by avoiding meat and practising self-flagellation. The bizarre practices have continued among believers. Participants said this year's festival had taken on extra significance because of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic gripping the world, which originated from Wuhan, China. Many believe that the pain from the piercings is a way to absorb the ills of their community onto themselves and help to bring good luck back. Followers wearing white join the festivals and parades to cleanse their souls. During the nine-day period from October 17 to 25, they will abstain from meat, alcohol, sex and bad behaviour. Pregnant and menstruating women must stay at home. The festival is normally packed with tourists from around the world but Thailand closed its borders on March 22 and has not re-opened to holidaymakers since.
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