Bode, April 15 -- In the medieval town of Bode, Nepal, a 30-year-old man named Sujan Bagh Shrestha pierced his tongue with a 10-inch-long needle, continuing a century-old tradition. This is the third consecutive time that Sujan has pierced his tongue.

This annual ritual, known as "Jibro Chedne Jatra," is observed on the second day of the Nepali New Year and is believed to have originated from a legend about preventing famine and natural disasters.

The piercing ceremony was witnessed by a large crowd of devotees and revellers who gathered to observe this significant cultural practice, which has been passed down through generations in Shrestha's family.

According to local legend, the tradition began as a solution to a severe famine in Bo...