Last time it was held received pretty complete coverage around the world; BBC, CNN, the Guardian, ABC etc; so that's when I first heard of it. From what I've read it's a centuries-old tradition.

There are plenty of priests who strongly endorse the activity and of course, plenty of people who claim because of the sacrifices their prayers have been answered.

I have no doubt according to the practitioners this act accords with Rta, don't you think?