Photo Gallery A Festival of Circumcision
For the sake of tradition, boys are not anesthetized before the ritual circumcisions. Here, a boy is restrained after the procedure.
The circumcisions only occupy one day of a four day festival, which includes traditional music.
Traditional sports are also a part of the festivities. Oil wrestling -- known as "Pelivani" -- is one of the popular activities.
The boys awaiting circumcision are the guests of honor at the festivities and are featured in a parade through the village. Over 120 boys were circumcized at last year's festival.
Circumcision is a symbol of religious and ethnic identity. Here, village elders pray prior to the start of the festival.
Women must wait outside the room until the circumcision is complete. Then they shower the boys with presents.
