Guns, swords, flower stems and a model ship were used by Taoist worshippers to impale their faces during the annual vegetarian festival on the Thai island of Phuket.
Worshippers believe the acts mean they can purify themselves so they can take on the sins of the community.
The Nine Emperor Gods festival is celebrated for nine days on the first evening of the ninth Chinese Lunar month.
The festival attracts thousands of spectators because of the unusual rituals that are performed.
Devotees also commit other painful acts like walking over burning coals to prove their devotion.
Worshippers will use the most extreme object they can find - but a number of those taking part do try and soften the pain by working themselves into a trance.
According to Taoist thought, each mutilation marks a sacrifice.
Many men and women can be seen with skewers pierced through their cheeks and in some cases their backs and shoulders.
One man bravely pierced his face with two revolvers.
The festival's origins date back to 1825, according to local folklore, when a visiting Chinese opera troupe fell illl.
They are believed to have adopted a vegetarian diet and carried out Taoist rituals in an effort to improve their health.
Music and fireworks also dominate the event which is attended by hundreds of thousands of tourists coming to view the spectacle.
Devotees reportedly very rarely need medical treatment following their impalement, but many are seen with bandages in the weeks after and some do requite stitches to seal the cuts to their cheeks.
