Zitlala

Seeking to appease the god of storms and end a drought, men and women in tiger costumes whip each other mercilessly into submission in an ancient ritual in southern Mexico.

"They say it's a drop of blood for a drop of rain," Karina Vicente says as she prepares to take part in the annual tradition for the first time.

Authorities have exhumed 32 bodies and nine heads from several clandestine graves in a southern Mexican state plagued by kidnappings, murders and drug cartel turf wars, officials said Nov. 24.

The remains were unearthed between Nov. 22 and Nov. 24 in 17 pits on a hill in the village of Pochahuixco, part of the municipality of Zitlala.