PIERCING WITH SKEWERS

The above pictures show the mediums at the Tow Boh Keong Temple in Ayer Tawar getting their cheeks pierced with sharp stainless steel skewers while going into a trance.  They would later on take part in the procession.
I was told that the mediums experience no pain during the piercing ceremony and even afterwards.  Also, there is no scarring after the skewers have been removed.