July 29, 2013: It is one way of proving their devotion - and is certainly not for the faint-hearted.

The stunning pictures show hundreds of Hindus gathering to worship one of their goddesses - but in return for a fulfilled wish, they pierce their skin with metal skewers.

The devotees can be seen wincing in pain as their faces, stomachs and limbs are all subjected to the painful ritual, which involves thick metal rods being pushed through their skin.

An Indian man performs during the Bonalu festival in Hyderabad. Bonalu is a Hindu folk festival of the Telangana region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh

Worshippers carry out the painful practise in honour of Maha Mariamman (Sheetla Mata) in Jammu, the winter capital of Kashmir, India.
Devotees participated in the annual religious procession, which is a thanks giving gesture to the goddess in return of their fulfilled wishes.

Lemons were put on needles and pierced through skin, while some had metal hooks pushed thruogh their skin and then tied to cars, which the devotees pulled.

Mariamman is the sister of Lord Vishnu (Sriranganathar) and can be known as Mahamaya.

The Samayapuram Mariamman is worshipped on the first day of the Tamil month of Vaikasi.

Devotees believe that the goddess protects whoever worships her and pays tribute to her.

A devotee, with steel hooks pierced through his back, pulls a car during an annual pilgrimage to the temple of Hindu goddess Sheetla Mata in Jammu
Needles pierce through the chest of an Indian devotee with lemons hanging from them as he is followed by a man with rods pierced through his cheeks

She is said to bring good health and prosperity to all her devotees.

Plenty of other devotees demonstrated their own acts of worship during the festival of worship in various parts of India.

The unusual practise was also carried out in Chennai, India, as part of ëAadií.

ëAadií is considered a holy month by Tamils and is observed with prayers and offerings to Hindu goddess Durga. 

The name 'Durga' in Sanskrit means 'invincible', and she was created when evil forces threathened the existence of the Gods.

Elsewhere, devotees donned brightly coloured costumes for the Bonalu festival in Hyderabad. 

Bonalu is a Hindu folk festival of the Telangana region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

It is celebrated in the name of the goddess of power, Mahakali, and is considered a thanksgiving to the Goddess for fulfillment of her vows.

Source: Mail Online, DT. July 29, 2013.