After opening with pole-raising rituals at shrines around the island, the festival unveils its famous and often gruesome street processions. These feature participants committing acts of ritual self-mutilation, such as climbing on ladders made of razor blades, piercing cheeks with steel skewers, or walking on hot coals, to display the depth of their spirituality. During this period, normal street vendors eschews meat (among many other things), preparing vegetarian fare in keeping with the sacraments. Look for stalls with yellow flags and Chinese or Thai script in red.
October 13 – 21
