A devotee dressed as Lord Shiva at a religious procession marking "Panguni Uthiram" festival in Mumbai.
Metal Spears Through Cheek, Hooks On Back: Bizarre Scenes From Panguni Uthiram Processions
People across India celebrated 'Panguni Uthiram', a Tamil Hindu festival on Wednesday. The Panguni Uthiram festival is marked on the Purnima of the month of Panguni. Bizarre scenes of devotees piercing cheeks with metal spears, pulling car with hooks pierced in back were seen at religious processions of Panguni Uthiram festival.
Indian Tamil Hindu devotees take part in a religious procession marking "Panguni Uthiram" festival in Mumbai. Devotees perform acts of self- affliction to seek blessings of Hindu god Murugan.
An Indian Tamil Hindu devotee, cheeks pierced with a metal spear, participates in a religious procession marking "Panguni Uthiram" festival in Mumbai.
A Tamil Hindu devotees pulls a car with hooks pierced in his back at a religious procession marking "Panguni Uthiram" festival in Mumbai.
The cheeks of a Indian Tamil Hindu devotee is pierced with a metal spear at a religious procession marking "Panguni Uthiram" festival in Mumbai.
The back of a Indian Tamil Hindu devotee is pierced with a metal hooks at a religious procession marking "Panguni Uthiram" festival in Mumbai.
An Indian Tamil Hindu devotee, cheeks pierced with a metal spear, participates in a religious procession marking "Panguni Uthiram" festival in Mumbai.
An Indian Tamil Hindu devotee drinks water at a religious procession marking "Panguni Uthiram" festival in Mumbai.
The cheeks of a Indian Tamil Hindu devotee is pierced with a metal spear at a religious procession marking "Panguni Uthiram" festival in Mumbai.AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool