Hong Kong: Children get high in annual bun festival

Thousands of visitors took part in the annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival in the island of Cheung Chau near Hong Kong, Saturday.
Children performers appearing to be floating were held up high on stands dressed as mythological Chinese deities, in a parade that lasted for around two hours. According to a local rumour, the children are drugged in order to maintain their balance better.
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is held each year on the 8th day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar, and coincides with Buddha’s birthday. Local legend has it that during the Qing Dynasty the village of Cheung Chau was devastated by plague, and therefore many of the villagers decided to disguise themselves as the different gods and walk around the roads to frighten off evil spirits. The plague is said to have ended after the ritualistic performances took place. Later on Saturday the festival will culminate with its traditional "Bun Grabbing Contest", in which the participants will climb up a tower made of bun, competing to grab as many lucky buns as possible.