That's gotta hurt!

Hundreds of men in Thailand try and outdo each other by forcing huge knives, countless sharp spikes and even a trident through their cheeks as part of a ritual to celebrate being vegetarian

• WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Hundreds of Thai men can be seen taking part in an annual vegetarian festival
• It sees followers piercing their cheeks with spikes, giant knives and even guns during the nine-day celebration
• Devotees of the Chinese Samkong Shrine in Phuket believe body piercing can help them to get rid of evil spirits

Forcing countless spikes, giant knives and even guns through their cheeks, these eye-watering pictures capture the moment hundreds of Thai men celebrated their annual vegetarian festival this weekend.

Those taking part in the nine-day festival in Phuket, southern Thailand, believe the act of body piercing helps to shift evil spirits. 

The celebration features devotees of the Chinese Samkong shrine and the Chinese Ban Tha Rue shrine and sees followers give up various products during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar.

It involves a procession that worships abstinence from meat, while mediums also attempt to call on spirits. 

Many believe their abstinence will help them obtain good health and peace of mind.

The men can be seen with dozens of silver spikes pierced through their lips and cheeks, while others shoved serrated metal bars and poles through their skin.

Ritual vegetarianism in Phuket is believed to have started in the early 1800s.

Ouch! This eye-watering photo shows a Thai man celebrating a vegetarian festival by forcing countless spikes through his cheeks and lips

Tradition: Those taking part in the nine-day festival in Phuket, southern Thailand, believe the act of body piercing helps to shift evil spirits

Procession: The celebration features devotees of the Chinese Samkong shrine and the Chinese Ban Tha Rue shrine and sees followers give up various products during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. A man is pictured here with a gun through his cheek

The festival involves a procession that worships abstinence from meat, while mediums also attempt to call on spirits. A man is pictured left with spike through his tongue and cheeks, including one which has a mobile phone on the end of it. Another is right psyching himself up

Look out! The men can be seen with dozens of silver spikes pierced through their lips and cheeks, while others shoved serrated metal bars and poles through their skin. This devotee has taken things even further by piercing his cheek with a trident

What a mouthful: Many of those taking part in the festival believe their abstinence will help them obtain good health and peace of mind. This man has fitted 13 knives through his cheek

Pain: Men at the annual festival in Phuket, southern Thailand, force countless spikes, giant knives and even guns through their cheeks

This follower poses for the camera with two guns wedged into his cheeks. Many believe the act of body piercing helps to shift evil spirits

Ritual vegetarianism in Phuket is believed to have started in the early 1800s. One devotee is pictured having his cheek pierced with swords

Devotees of the Chinese Samkong shrine and the Chinese Ban Tha Rue shrine walked through Phuket yesterday in a procession that worships abstinence from meat

The festival, where mediums also attempt to call on spirits, sees followers give up various products during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Above, two of the men - including one with an axe - walk through the streets in Phuket