Looking for a different kind of surf contest this summer? You’re unlikely to find one more exotic than the Maramadi bull surfing festival, which is held post-harvest each August in India’s rural Kerala region. A football-size rice paddy outside the host village is chosen and flooded until the water stands about ankle deep. Then teams of three—two handlers and a surfer—line up with their yoked bull pair to see who can race across the quagmire the best. Handlers drive and guide the bulls along the length of field while the surfer is tasked with remaining upright in their wake.
Often, the surfing member of the trio will begin by holding a rope and then move to holding a tail, and this is when the real shredding begins. Multiple awards are bestowed, with different categories for speed and style. And it’s serious fun, with teams putting in hours training their bulls and paying a 10,000-rupee fee (about $200) for the chance to compete. Quite a bit of grooming and horn polishing goes into the steeds, too, so they look their best before jumping in the mud. Check out this swampy surf fest below.
Image by Maramadi
Image byWikiCommons
Image by Rekla Race, Theni
Image by Rekla Race, Theni
Image by Dharohar Vacations & Holidays Pvt Ltd
Image by Dharohar Vacations & Holidays Pvt Ltd
Image by Kauthukam
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