15 of the Most Dangerous Festivals Around the World

Vegetarian Festival, Thailand

Held in Phuket every October, this extreme festival has its roots in Chinese traditions and was brought to Thailand by a group of Chinese Opera artists.

Participants undertake fire walking, body piercing and other acts of self-mortification — acting as the mediums of the gods.

Men and women puncture their cheeks with various items including knives, skewers and other household items. During the course of the festival, people don’t eat meat and practice abstinence. In 2011, as many as 74 people were injured while trying to perform self-mortification.