A devotee to the Chinese Shrine of Sapam has his face pierced by sharp sticks during the street procession to mark the annual Vegetarian Festival in Phuket island, Thailand, 01 October  2008. The annual traditional Chinese vegetarian festival held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar emphasizes merit making and ritual cleansing of the body to mark the nine days long festival features with face-piercing spirit mediums strict vegetarianism.  EPA/YONGYOT PRUKSARAK

Indian Muslims offer prayers at Jama Masjid on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr in New Delhi, India on 2 October 2008. Eid Al Fitr marks the end of Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.  EPA/HARISH TYAGI

A young Palestinian plays with homemade sparklers after breaking their fast in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, 23 September 2008. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy fasting month of Ramadan during which they observe fast from dawn until dusk  EPA/ALI ALI

An Afghan girl reads the holy Koran, during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Kabul, Afghanistan, 10 September 2008. Muslims all over the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan which prohibits food, drinks, smoke and sex from dawn to dusk. EPA/S. SABAWOON

A Palestinian Muslim boy pauses in the alleyway where he lives, decorated with thousands of colored lights, that leads to the Harim el-Sharif (The Holy Sanctuary), behind, as the faithful are called to prayer at sundown on 10 September 2008, breaking the Muslim holy month of Ramadan daylight fasting period.  EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

A devotee wearing locks in his neck attends annual gatherings at the shrine of Sufi Saint Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi Mashhadi, more known as Bari Imam in Islamabad Pakistan 26 May 2008. Thousands of people visited the shrine on the first day of the Urs which will continue till May 29.

People were seen eating rice and bread that was being distributed at the Langar Khana. The Bari Imam Urs has become one of the main events of the capital as thousands of devotees from all over the country take part in it every year. EPA/T. MUGHAL