MUSTANG, April 21: A cultural festival of the Thakali people in which people drink the fresh blood of yaks has commenced at Boksikhola, Kobang in Mustang district.
As part of the festival, a part of the yak's neck is pierced for the blood to gush out and tumbler placed under to collect the fresh blood which is then drunk. People drink the fresh blood in the belief that drinking fresh blood of yak treats gastritis, acidity, jaundice, muscle sprain, body swelling and other bowel related diseases as the yaks feed on valuable herbs like yarshagumbu, jatamasi, panchaaunle, among others growing in the highland pasture.
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People from Upper Mustang, Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat and Kaski districts have thronged Boksi Khola to drink the fresh yak blood from the first day itself, said Deepa Gauchan, a local yak farmer. The festival will continue till April 30. RSS
