sacred yaks~

just got back from a short trek in the annapurna mountains...
as i was walking past a small garung village, i spotted a herd of yak in the distance. i thought that was odd, seeing yak normally roam at higher altitudes. my guide soon informed me that they were performing an annual ceremony where they drink the blood of the yak, close to 30, and slaughter one. a few villagers made a two day pilgrimage to this area with the entire herd. being the only tourist, i tried to be an inconspicuous as possible with my camera in hand. as i approach the scene, there were about 50 villagers in line for the precious and potent blood from the yes, still alive, yak. they cut open the jugular veins which acted like a tap. this blood is believed to be sacred and protects one from cancer. they drained the blood from the one yak and continued to cut off the head and eventually killed it entirely. the meat would soon be dispersed throughout the villagers. everyone in the village was in line to drink a full glass of the blood. thinking that that was the end, i was wrong. i soon noticed another man corralling another yak. this yak was soon drained of its blood and then let free. the process continued. by yak #4 i had enough. by the end of the day, they would have drank blood from all of the yak and then let them free to roam. with little energy, they then walk back to their high altitude home, days away. i had to bit my tongue and keep my judgments to myself.