Kavada piercing festival
Praying to the Hindu Gods, during the puja, to bless the ceremony. This ceremony is for good luck the next year from Ganesha's brother, (I was told), if you needed to make amends with God. This is in Kerala, India.
A drink is passed to all the properly prepared devotees who wish to participate. A tika is applied to the foreheads of all participants.
Incense fills the air.
Piercing the mouth of a believer.
The people who are pierced jumped crazed the entire time, with someone holding on to them (to make sure they are not hurt), both before and after the piercing.
Many different articles are inserted in cheeks, and hooks hung from backs.
Lemons are hung from the metal arrow in this man's mouth. There is no blood, even though the arrow goes into one cheek, out the other.