Friday, 21 August 2009

Cambodian Villagers mourns ‘holy cow’

Villagers look at the carcass of a dead calf, which they believe to be a "magic cow" born with crocodile skin, during its funeral at Trang Per village in Pusat province, 190km (120 km) northwest of Phnom Penh August 20, 2009. The villagers believe that drinking water poured over the calf can cure rheumatism and other bodily ailments. Belief in the supernatural healing powers of animals such as cows, snakes and turtles is a relatively common phenomenon in Cambodia, where over a third of the population lives on under $1 a day and few can afford modern medicines. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Villagers look at the carcass of a dead calf, which they believe to be a "magic cow" born with crocodile skin, during its funeral at Trang Per village in Pusat province, 190km (120 km) northwest of Phnom Penh August 20, 2009. The villagers believe that drinking water poured over the calf can cure rheumatism and other bodily ailments. Belief in the supernatural healing powers of animals such as cows, snakes and turtles is a relatively common phenomenon in Cambodia, where over a third of the population lives on under $1 a day and few can afford modern medicines. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

A villager pours water over the carcass of a dead calf, which villagers believe to be a "magic cow" born with crocodile skin, during its funeral at Trang Per village in Pusat province, 190km (120 km) northwest of Phnom Penh August 20, 2009. The villagers believe that drinking water poured over the calf can cure rheumatism and other bodily ailments. Belief in the supernatural healing powers of animals such as cows, snakes and turtles is a relatively common phenomenon in Cambodia, where over a third of the population lives on under $1 a day and few can afford modern medicines. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea