Hindu festival rituals in India

A Hindu devotee shouts into the ear of a woman devotee, tongue and cheek pierced with metal rods, as she participates in a religious procession during a chariot festival dedicated to Goddess Mutthumariamman in Bandel, about 55 kilometers (34 miles) from Kolkata, India, Friday, April 5, 2013. The ritualistic acts of inflicting pain on oneself are performed as an act of penance with the belief that it will prevent diseases and for the well being of the families of devotees. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

An Indian devotee holding his son reacts after walking on burning coal during a religious ritual at the Hindu goddess Mariamman, temple, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 11, 2013. The devotees perform rituals of inflicting pain on themselves as an act of penance with the belief that it will bring welfare to their families and that their prayers will be answered. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

An Indian woman devotee walks on burning coal during a religious ritual at the Hindu goddess Mariamman temple, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 11, 2013. The devotees perform ritualistic acts of inflicting pain on themselves as an act of penance with the belief that it will bring welfare to their families and that their prayers will be answered. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian Hindu devotees with their cheeks pierced with metal rods participate in a religious ritual at the Hindu goddess Mariamman temple, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 11, 2013. The devotees perform ritualistic acts of inflicting pain on themselves as an act of penance with the belief that it will bring welfare to their families and that their prayers will be answered. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

An Indian devotee with his tongue pierced with metal rods and lemons hung with pins on his body participates in a religious ritual at the Hindu goddess Mariamman temple, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 11, 2013. The devotees perform ritualistic acts of inflicting pain on themselves as an act of penance with the belief that it will bring welfare to their families and that their prayers will be answered. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A Hindu woman devotee prepares to get her tongue pierced with a metal rod during a religious ritual at the Hindu goddess Mariamman temple, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 11, 2013. The devotees perform ritualistic acts of inflicting pain on themselves as an act of penance with the belief that it will bring welfare to their families and that their prayers will be answered. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A Hindu woman devotee gets her tongue pierced with a metal rod as a man hangs lemons on metal pins on his body during a religious ritual at the Hindu goddess Mariamman temple, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 11, 2013. The devotees perform ritualistic acts of inflicting pain on themselves as an act of penance with the belief that it will bring welfare to their families and that their prayers will be answered. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A Hindu woman devotee gets her tongue pierced with a metal rod during a religious ritual at the Hindu goddess Mariamman, temple, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, April 11, 2013. The devotees perform rituals of inflicting pain on themselves as an act of penance with the belief that it will bring welfare to their families and that their prayers will be answered. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)