Mass circumcision festival held in Malaysia

Every year, young boys aged between seven and 11 undergo a mass circumcision in Malaysia. About 200 boys took part in a mass circumcision at a mosque in Ampang, in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur on December 5.

Young boys take part in the festivities which some consider a celebration of reaching manhood. Manhood is welcomed in their community with surgery using local anesthetic and laser technology.

We look at some of the images as the boys enter 'manhood'.

Medical personnel tend to the young boys as they undergo a mass circumcision at a mosque



Parents watch over their sons ahead of the  mass circumcision ceremony.



A boy waits his turn to take part in the ceremony in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur.



A grandmother comforts her grandson as he undergoes circumcision.



Rohingya boys from Myanmar living in Malaysia take part in the ceremony.



Parents tend to their sons before the mass circumcision ceremony at a mosque in Ampang.



Parents tend to their sons before the ceremony, outside the mosque.



A father comforts his son as he undergoes circumcision during a mass circumcision ceremony at a mosque in Ampang.



A boy waits his turn to take part in the mass circumcision ceremony.



Boys react as they wait their turn to take part in a mass circumcision ceremony.



A mother comforts her son as he undergoes circumcision.



Boys are hosed down with water before the mass circumcision ceremony at the mosque.



Boys are hosed down with water before the circumcision ceremony.



PHOTOS: AFP