MARAMADI FESTIVAL ANANDHAPALLI PATHANAMTHITTA KERALA
A peculiar ox race commonly held in the villages of Kerala during
the harvest season, was shot at Anandhapalli village in Pathanamthitta
district during the annual Maramadi festival on August 15.
A vast stretch of freshly ploughed paddy fields (kandams) form the
'stadium' for the race. Excited villagers crowd around the 'stadium'
to cheer the participants.
A pair of oxen managed by three persons forms 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 at a cost of around
ten thousand rupees per pair.
Getting there : Anandhapalli is just one km away from Adoor which
is a major town on the State highway (M.C Road).
Nearest railway station : Chengannur, about 25 km from Adoor.
Nearest airport : Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about
92 km from Adoor.
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