In cultures across the world and throughout time, people have been inflicting painful body rituals on themselves as a method of exploring religious experience. Pain is a broad category within religious ritual and is perhaps the most taboo in Western society. Despite this, rituals involving pain can be found cross culturally in many different faiths from around the globe, often among ascetics. Some are inflicted by others, many are self-inflicted. This can be clearly be seen within the act of the Sun Dance of the Plains Indians, who pierce and tear their flesh as an act of physically honoring one’s ancestors and communities, as well as with the Muslim flagellants who injure themselves in mourning for Hussein and the massacre at Karbala.The month of Muharram is of great religious significance to Islamic people the world over. It is often considered synonymous with "Ashura", the tenth day of the Muharram month. The Shia muslims believe that Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, became a martyr at the Battle of Karbala on the tenth day of Muharram in 61 AH(680 AD). Shia Muslims consider this a day of sorrow. On "Ashura", devoted Muslims assemble and go out in large processions. They parade the streets holding banners and carrying models of the mausoleum of Hazrat Imam Hussein and his people, who fell at Karbala. Some Shia sects observe "Ashura" by beating themselves with chains in public, cutting themselves with knives and sharp objects and holding mournful public processions. This is an expression of their grief on the death of their favorite leader Hussein, considered to be the representative of Allah.On the other hand, Charak Puja (Devotion to God) is an ancient Hindu religious and folk festival of Southern Belt of Bangladesh and West Bengal (India) which is now intangible heritage in the world. The word “Charak” perhaps came from “Charki” (Circle). In this Puja the Charak is tied with a hook (Borshi) on devotee’s back and then he will be moved around a bar with a long rope. Devotees sacrifice by hooking themselves and crossing the sharp blade and some put heavy weight on their chest. All these activities they do to satisfy Lord Shiva (Hindu God). They believe that the festival will carry prosperity by eliminating the sorrow and sufferings of the previous year.Place: All photos are taken around Bangladesh in 2009.