Thaipusam festival sees devout Hindus pierce cheeks with spears
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At first glance it could be any festival with its thumping drumbeats, masses of people and bright colours.
But there's one thing which sets this particular celebration apart from the others – most of the people participating are heavily pierced.
The attendants are devout Hindus and they are all prepared to undergo physical austerity practices as a sign of devotion to the Hindu god of war, Lord Murugan.
They take part in public processions, carrying pots or brass jugs of milk on their head, piercing their cheeks, doing prostrations or performing the kavadi dance whilst carrying a yoke – essentially a portable altar – on their shoulders.
Some of the dancers have been pierced with hooks on their backs and have a spear pricked through their cheeks.
The festival is also celebrated in countries outside of India and is known as Thaipusam in Southeast Asia.
It has a more extreme side which is evident in countries like Malaysia and Singapore where it's not just cheeks which are pierced.
There the entire body is punctured with tiny hooks that hold up the highly-embellished yokes, usually decorated with peacock feathers and weighing up to 66lbs.
Devotees claim to experience no pain and it is said that they enter a trance-like state that elevates them from physical discomfort.
And despite the gaping holes, they do not bleed from their piercings and have wounds that heal perfectly, leaving no scars.
Thaipusam is celebrated mostly by Tamil Hindus to commemorate the occasion when Lord Murugan's mother, the goddess Parvati gave him a vel (or spear) so that he could vanquish an evil demon.
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A Malaysian devotee has an enormous vel or spear piercing his cheek. He is celebrating Thaipusam, a festival commemorating the Hindu god of war, Lord Murugan
A man prepares to have a spear rammed into his cheek. This form of spiritualism may not be for everybody but it's a normal rite of passage for this resident of Kerala
Kavadis can weigh up to 66lbs. A disciple in Singapore sits still while his friends straighten his yoke, preparing him for the temple processions
A woman carries a brass jug of water on her head in Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is said that followers enter a trance-like state that elevates them from physical discomfort
A small boy participates in the festival in Kerala, India. A spear pierces through his cheek and his face is smeared with holy ash. Devotees claim to experience no pain
Thousands of followers across the world perform acts of physical austerity. The festival is celebrated in countries outside of India and is known as Thaipusam in Southeast Asia
Act of devotion: A heavily embellished spear pierces the cheek of this disciple. There is a smaller spear slicing through his forehead
A woman with a long metal rod inserted through her cheeks. Devotees say that they do not bleed from their piercings and their wounds heal perfectly
Followers take part in public processions and performing the kavadi dance whilst carrying a portable altar on their shoulders. Some kavadi dancers have been pierced with hooks on their backs and have a spear pricked through their cheeks
A Hindu pilgrim in a deep trance as she is about to have a sharp spear inserted through both of her cheeks as part of the festival in South India
The festival has a more extreme side in countries like Malaysia and Singapore where it's not just cheeks which are pierced, but the entire body
Batu Caves in Malaysia has the second tallest Lord Murugan statue in the world. The temple attracts devotees who flock there to carry their kavadis up the temple's steep flight of stairs and to the altars inside the vast caves
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