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Peruvians hold marriage ceremony for vicunas (llamas), hundreds of people attend

Vicunas, undomesticated relatives of llamas, gathered for ancestral herding

Peruvians from the Andes held the "chaccu" ritual in Huancayo in Peru's central highlands: an event which includes a vicuna marriage ceremony, Associated Press reports.

According to archaeological and historical evidence, the herding of the animals is part of an ancient ritual that was performed in the presence of the Inca, the king, and the entire upper echelon of pre-Colombian Peruvian society.

In those days, the ritual culminated with the sacrifice of a vicuna in thanks for the growth of the herd.

On Monday, however, the ceremony included the marriage of two vicunas.

Images from local television show a group of people performing the wedding ceremony, in which two vicunas locked lips.

Part of this gathering involves members of the community coming together to herd the vicunas into a corral.

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