Maramadi: Bull Surfing in Kerala, India
At the annual Maramadi festival during the post harvest season
in the villages of Kerala in southern India, a peculiar bull race takes
place. A pair of bulls are sent charging down the football field-sized
rice paddy field soaked in ankle deep water, while their guides hang
onto the tail or onto a harness and slide through the mud. The fields
are freshly ploughed and the muddy water splash about as the bulls are
raced by their guides. The villagers gather around these fields keeping
safe distance. The air is rent with excitement fervor as there is stiff
competition over these races.
A pair of oxen is usually managed
by three persons forming a participating unit. Nearly 30 such units
participate in the race which starts at noon and continues up to dusk.
Like professional Jockeys these persons are also well trained and are
experts in managing the oxen during the race. The oxen participating in
for these races are specially fed and trained.
The most famous
among the Maramadi races is held in Anandapali village Pathnamthitta
District near Adoor City in Kerala. Here it is held around August 15th
every year and coincides with the Onam celebrations.
