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National Geographic

These extreme stunts aren't just magic tricks—they're a religious experience

When Pallaniyammal Sanmugam was pregnant with her second son, her gynecologist advised she would have to undergo a cesarean section. Believing a vaginal delivery would be safer for both her and her baby, Sanmugam prayed to the Hindu god Karthikeya, promising that if she delivered a healthy baby through vaginal delivery, she would express her gratitude by piercing a trident through her body during Panguni Uthiram , a Hindu festival where devotees pierce their bodies with spikes, rods, and needles to pay respects to the god and thank him for fulfilled wishes. Soon, Sanmugam's wish, too, was fulfilled. 'The following year, I had a trident pierced through my abdomen. I've done it 13 times so far, and each time, I've received what I'd asked for. If my body cooperates, I'll do it at least thrice again,' says Sanmugam, 50. 'It does not hurt. Even when they remove the trident, the bleeding stops the moment you apply some [holy ash] to your skin. The holes, too, close on their own in a week.'