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On Day-3 of the event, the day before we arrived, over 20 water buffalo were sacrificed in this arena. Their horns lie in the foreground. I'm glad I missed it. The mud and the blood and the stench and the flies on day 4 were quite enough for me. The slaughter of buffalos has a two-fold purpose. Their spirits help guide the deceased to heaven. But perhaps more importantly, it's a display of status and wealth.

Most of the meat was cooked and eaten by the 1000+ relatives in attendance, some of whom travelled thousands of miles to be here. We were the only "tourists" present.