6. Day of Ashura

Celebrated on the 10^th day of Muharram, the Day of Ashura represents a day of mourning for the death of Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the prophet Muhammad. His death is important to all Muslims, but especially to the Shia, who see it as an ethical act from which all humanity can learn.

Husayn refused to pledge allegiance to the corrupt kingdom of Yazid bin Mu’awiya and, together with his children, he paid with his life. Husayn was beheaded and his body mutilated. It is said the people who witnessed the massacre started to beat themselves.

Nowadays, on the Day of Ashura, young men and children as young as six years old beat themselves with knives on the end of chains. Bystanders and the childrens’ families only intervene when they feel the self-flagellation could cause serious injuries.

5. Nine Emperor Gods Festival

This Chinese celebration honors the return from heaven to earth of the nine Emperors, who take the bodies of men during the nine-day festival. Nine mediums are chosen as hosts for the heavenly Emperors and they perform tasks that would seem impossible for normal humans.

During the third day of The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, the mediums play with boiling hot oil, pouring it on their faces and bodies and even spitting it into the fire. Normally, the oil would cause severe injuries but the mediums seem to be protected by the deities that posses them.

On the fifth day, one of the mediums has his back pierced by dozens of metal hooks, while the other eight pierce their mouths with 4.5-meters-long spears. Amazingly enough, the chosen hosts of the Emperors do not bleed or feel any pain.

On the seventh day of the festival, the mediums and devotees perform the Firewalking ceremony. They walk on burning ashes calmly, without suffering any pain. The vegetarian diet and the prayers are said to make the brave fire-walkers float over the fiery path.

4. Thaipusam

Celebrated by the majority of Tamil Hindus, Thaipusam, also known as Thaipooyam or Thaippooyam, commemorates the birthday of Murugan, youngest son of Shiva, and the moment Parvati, his wife, gave him a spear to defeat the demon Soorapadman.

During the Thaipusam Festival, devotees engage in a pilgrimage, carrying different types of burdens (kavadi). Some just shave their heads and carry a simple pot of milk, while others pierce their cheeks and tongues with a spear and have hooks stuck in their backs. The greater the pain they endure, the greater the gods’ blessing.

3. Charak Puja

Although restricted to remote areas of India, by the Government, the Charak Puja Festival is still very popular in the rural areas of West Bengal and Kolkata. During this bizarre celebration, devotees praise the gods Shiva and Sakti by undergoing extreme physical pains.

The 10-12 devotees who perform Charak Puja must first go through a month-long period of fasting and praying. On the day of Charak they will jump from 15-foot-high bamboo stages onto layers of broken glass, nails and other sharp objects. Others have their backs pierced by giant hooks and can be seen overhanging from the stage.

Charak Puja is seen by many as a way to reach salvation.

2. Vegetarian Festival of Phuket

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival began in 1825 when a Chinese opera band came to the town of Kathu, Thailand, to entertain the Chinese miners working there. The band’s members grew mysteriously ill, but, to drive away the sickness, they adopted a vegetarian diet in honor of two emperor gods. The locals were intrigued by their practice and decided to embrace it.

During the Vegetarian Festival of Phuket, people have to stick to a vegetarian diet for at least three days, behave both mentally and physically and wear white during the festivities. Thousands of people pierce their faces with all sorts of bizarre objects, from giant swords, to paintball guns. They believe they are blessed by the gods and don’t experience pain, excessive bleeding or infections.

1. Penitencia

The Philippines is the only officially Christian country in Asia and its people have a very unique way of showing their faith. During the Penitencia, the people of Pampanga experience the same physical pains that Jesus Christ did when he was crucified.

Some just walk around the streets lashing their backs until they bleed, to absolve them of their sins, while others carry their own cross around the city, tormented just like Jesus. They are then crucified with real nails piercing their hands and feet.

Although the Catholic Church opposes this kind of violent displays, Penitencia takes place every Easter.

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