The body is transcended and the soul is made pure by mortification of the flesh-including piercings with these needles-in the annual Hindu fire-walking ceremony on Viti Levu Island in Fiji.

For as long as anyone in the tiny Spanish village of San Pedro Manrique can remember, people there have been walking on fire.

Fire did not break out and within a minute those capable of walking began staggering out of the ruptured plane, stepping over debris and burst suitcases.