Each March , devotees from across Thailand travel to the Nakhon Pathom province to have their bodies adorned with intricate traditional inkings . About 30 minutes outside of Bangkok is the Wat Bangphra Buddhist temple , famous for the daily tattoos , known as 'Sak Yants , ' given by the monks that live and train there . These 'magic tattoos ' are believed to have mystical powers , the ability to ward off bad luck and the power to protect wearers from harm . Scroll down for video . Each March , devotees from across Thailand travel to the Wat Bangphra Buddist temple to receive 'magic tattoos ' Buddhist monks adorn adherents with intricate inkings that are believed to have mystical powers and provide strength and security . First introduced by Buddhist monk , Luang Por Pern , the Bangphra temple brings together thousands of adherents on the first Saturday of March each year . Beginning the evening before , adherents may visit the temple to begin the process of tattooing . Artists work through the night to complete the detailed designs , inked on visitors ' chests , backs , legs and arms , which are believed to provide those who wear them with strength and security . Aside from simply amassing new body art , adherents also visit the monastery to pay their respects to the temple 's master tattooist . A devotee acts like a tiger while under the spell of the 'magic tattoo ' during the annual festival at Wat Bangphra Buddist temple in Thailand . Wearers often a deep trance and may take on the characteristics of their animal tattoos . As such , some visitors may need to be subdued . The practice was first introduced by Buddhist monk , Luang Por Pern , who lived and practiced at the Bangphra temple . Participants receive tattoos via a traditional steel rod sharpened to a point during the Magic Tattoo Festival in the Nakhron Pathom province . As well as having tattoos applied or touched up , believers also visit the temple to pay respects to the temple 's master tattooist . These intricate tattoos have deep religious meaning and are believed to provide strength and security to those who have them . Often , during that process of tattooing , devotees enter a deep , meditative-like trance . As the crowd forms outside the temple , a path may be cleared for those in the otherworldly state to make their way inside . It 's believed that adherents who fall under such a spell will then take on characteristics of the animals that they have tattooed on their bodies , growling like a tiger , for example . Those who invoke the spirit of their animal tattoos may need to be subdued and soothed before entering the temple , similar to how a captured animal would need to be calmed down . During the festival , Buddhist monks use traditional needles to tattoo devotees , who believe that the inkings have mystical powers . A devotee in a state of trance , and clad in silver amulets , mimics an animal while visiting the temple to pay his respects . Devotees are also sprayed with holy water during the festival , which is held on the first Saturday of March each year . The ink is made up of ingredients such as snake venom and ash and the monk blows on the tattoo when complete to infuse it with power . This particular devotee , also in a state of trance , mimics the tiger that he has tattooed on his chest . Many attendees believe that the tattoos covering their bodies help to ward off bad luck and protect them from harm . Traditionally , the tattoos are done with a 'mai sak , ' a long bamboo stick sharpened to a point , by the Buddhist monks . The ink is made from several ingredients , which may include snake venom , herbs and cigarette ash . Monks bless the tattoo upon its completion and then blow on it , which is believed to infuse the inking with power . Each year , adherents may return to the temple to have their tattoos bestowed again with new healing and protective properties .
On the first Saturday of March , believers visit the Luang Por Pern temple to have their bodies tattooed . Known for the 'sak yants ' given by the monks who live there , these 'magic tattoos ' are said to have mystical powers . The ink , which may be infused with snake venom , causes its wearers to enter into a deep , trance-like state .