Spirit medium preparing to channel Guan Yin, Hat Yai, Thailand.

As mentioned, The Nine Emperor God festival is Taoist, and is held annually on the ninth day if the ninth lunar month when it is believed that the gods, who usually reside in the constellation of the Big Dipper, descend to Earth for Nine days to bring blessings and renewal to their devotees. It is a major event in the religious calendars of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. In the Thai festival in Phuket, extreme piercing has grown increasingly popular since the 1970s. It is performed altruistically as it is held that by suffering oneself, you can relieve the suffering of others. In the process, the possessed spirit mediums who get pierced gain spiritual merits, increasing the possibility of a fortunate next life reincarnation. The same festival held in Hat Yai, just a few hours drive from Phuket is quite different though. Replacing the extreme piercing (there has been some in recent years, but still comparatively few) are 'sword ladders' and 'fire pits' which the mediums climb or walk over for similar reasons to extreme piercing in Phuket. Also, in Hat Yai, most female mediums have one cheek pierced with a thin metal rod which is rare to see elsewhere. However, female mediums channeling the Goddess of Mercy refrain from piercing and the like as Guan Yin is already a Bodhisattva and in no need of earning merits or good karma for future reincarnation. Therefore, the medium dresses in an approximation of how Guan Yin in imagined to dress, and accompanied by her hand-maidens, follows the procession routes handing out blessings to all who ask.