Mustang, Nepal – The traditional blood-drinking festival of yak and chauri has commenced at Marchhe Lek, a communal grazing area in Thak-700 region of Thasang Rural Municipality, Mustang. The event is organized annually by the Marchhe Yak Nak Farmers’ Group, which launched this year’s festival on Thursday.
This unique tradition, deeply rooted in the Himalayan and high-hill regions, involves the consumption of fresh, live blood from yak and chauri (a hybrid of yak and cow). It is believed by locals to have medicinal properties, particularly in treating stomach-related ailments. Drinking live blood is considered a form of natural healing, and the practice has been followed for generations.
Marchhe Lek is located at an altitude of around 4,000 meters above sea level, nestled in the lap of the Nilgiri Himal. According to Sojan Hirachan, a member of the farmers’ group, there are ten traditional cattle sheds (goths) in the area, with over 800 yaks and chauris belonging to about ten families.
During the winter, herders move the animals to lower altitudes (Besi), while in summer, the livestock are brought to Marchhe Lek for grazing. The area falls under Thak-700 and includes pastoralists from Sauru, Sirkhum, Larjung, Naurikot, and Taklung villages.
The blood-drinking festival is observed twice a year — once in Baishakh (before yaks are moved to the highlands) in Ghatthe Khola, Thasang, and again during Shrawan in Marchhe Bugin, when the grazing pastures are rich with green grass and medicinal herbs.
The diet of yaks and chauris includes wild Himalayan herbs such as yarsagumba, panch aule, niramsi, jatamasi, satwa, bholu tea, kurilo, tora chichi, jimbu, and wild garlic. Locals believe that because of this herbal diet, their blood has the power to cure gastritis, asthma, thyroid problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even sexual weakness.
The festival is drawing significant public interest. “Every year, a large number of people attend the festival to drink blood, and this year is no exception,” said Sojan Hirachan. The event will run for ten days, and prior to the opening, a communal animal shed worship was held on Wednesday, said Buddha Gauchan, Chairperson of the farmers’ group.
This year, a glass of fresh blood is being sold for NPR 250. Temporary huts and food stalls have also been set up by the herders for visitors. The organizers expect a turnout of over 300 people.
Marchhe Lek is accessible from the Beni–Jomsom highway, followed by a 3 to 5-hour uphill trek to the east of the Kali Gandaki River. The area can also be reached via foot trails from Sauru and Chimang.
