Phuket, Thailand, October 16, 2007—A devotee of the Chinese shrine Ban Tha Rue runs over hot coals as part of a ten-day vegetarian festival at the country's biggest resort. Participants of the annual festival, which begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month, eat vegetarian and vegan food to cleanse the spirit. They also perform various rituals—such as puncturing their cheeks with swords—as religious acts to bring good luck to their community.
It is something similar to the Catholic Lent, in the sense that once a year devoted people give up their usual diet to eat only vegetarian or vegan to remind themselves of their faith. The feats of pain are also, to show the level of their devotion.
Those rocks look too hot for me! For all my Thai friends eating Jay, let's have a nice steak when it's all over!