Thanks your for your comment . Well yes indeed but the festival is actually based on the Chinese community here from SE China that speak Hokkien. I've heard different stories as to the reason behind the tradition with one being the tin mines which were full of Chinese immigrants suffered from dysentery spread by the Chinese opera which was traveling around performing at the different labour camps. To show penace, the Opera members became vegetarian for 9 days. This can help explain the self mutilation and piercings perhaps. The events are based around the Chinese temples here in Phuket.