Gruesome acts of devotion highlight of Phuket vegetarian festival

Thailand’s annual vegetarian festival, which begins Friday, sees people perform ritualistic mutilations in a gruesome show of devotion to the gods. Phuket (dpa) – Thailand’s annual vegetarian festival is celebrated as an opportunity to purify one’s body and encourage good health. However, on the southern island of Phuket, the festival has little to do with food.…