India, April 15 -- By Binod Prasad Adhikari

Bode [Nepal], April 15 (ANI): Lying in the suburbs of the ancient city of Bhaktapur, the medieval town of Bode has been observing the annual festival of tongue piercing, locally called "Jibro Chedne Jatra."

A 10-inch-long needle is pierced through the tongue of a person, following the centuries-old tradition. For the fourth consecutive year, Sujan Bagh Shrestha pierced his tongue in front of a sea of revellers who had gathered from far and wide.

Escorted through the crowd of devotees and revellers who had gathered to witness the ritual, Sujan followed in his family's footsteps, continuing a tradition upheld for over two decades. His father, Buddha Krishna, pierced his tongue nine times, and h...