Devotees pierced their faces with skewers to purify their sins at the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket, Thailand, this morning.

The Taoist followers have been mutilating themselves all week with eye-wincing displays of bravery - or stupidity - said to cleanse the spirit and prove their religious devotion.

Locals and tourists watched as the self-flagellating 'mah song', or 'horses of the gods' as they are known, stabbed their cheeks with sharp implements - including long metal skewers, kitchen knives, and even the pointed bowsprits of model ships - in graphic shows of spiritual fortitude.

The piercings are done without anesthetic, with devotees believing the gods will shield them from the pain or injury.

Huge golden Chinese dragons, auspicious artifacts, and ornate palanquins carrying lucky deities were also paraded on the streets during the festivities.

The yearly procession takes place every year at shrines across the island, where there is a hardened Thai-Chinese community. Similar events happen around Thailand among those with Chinese ancestry, but few are as extreme as those on the holiday island.

The festival, also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, usually takes place in the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, typically around September or October. It has roots in ancient Chinese culture.

Participants also observe a strict vegetarian or vegan diet for nine days.

Devotees believe the sacrifice will cleanse their bodies and minds and invite good luck and fortune into their lives. Many participants believe it will also bestow health and spiritual strength.

This year's Vegetarian Festival will run until October 23.