Nine Emperor Gods Festival

Better known as the Vegetarian Festival, followers of the Tao faith celebrate a nine-day celebration beginning on the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. The festival mainly takes place in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Riau Islands, and Myanmar.  The main goal of the festival is to welcome good fortune to communities and drive away evil spirits.



Devotees and participants purify themselves in public in forms of self-mutilation. Prior to participating in such acts of devotion, devotees enter a state of possession by spirits and dive into a trance where they then skewer their bodies and faces with numerous objects such as guns, needles, and tools.




Throughout the festival, participants refrain from consuming any meats and strictly observe a 10 day vegetarian diet for the purpose of spiritual cleansing. In addition, pregnant women are not allowed to witness any of the rituals because they are considered impure.These holy rituals are usually performed in Tao shrines and temples where followers display forms of self-mutilation known as "Ma Song." 

Road side viewers throw firecrackers at seat carriers. It is believed that the trance which these participants experience make them fearless from pain.