Maram Adi

Wondering what a Maram Adi is?? Well, it is an Ox Race which is part of Kerala's tradition as well as an entertaining sport. Usually the event is held in a paddy field filled almost knee high with muddy murky water. An ox pair runs from one end of the field to the other end through the muddy water, they are driven by two people standing on an attached wood with their hands firmly holding the cattles nose ropes. Rules differ from place to place - in some places 2 pairs of ox race against each other while at some other places the ox race winner is decided based on time.

Every year on August 15th (Indian Independence Day), Anandapally near Adoor in Kerala gets ready for the local Maram Adi competition. Fortunately this year I was around and thought, why don't I catch some live action? This is the second time that I am been to Anandapally for this Maram Adi event. I reached there in the afternoon when the sun was right over our heads. I had brought my digital camera to capture some exceptional shots of the race. This time I had made a risky decision to stand at the finishing line to get some better photos, it was so risky that sometimes an uncontrollable ox with large horns might run into the watching crowd. During the race couple of times the ox did run into the crowd, and it became even more exciting to see people running for their life with an ox right behind them. Luckily no one got hurt. When each race starts, every single spectator gets on their toes to flee if needed. Its like a loose canon, never know when it might come straight at you. Race after race, the excitement gradually grew as I stood firmly at the finishing line with my camera focused on the raging beasts. At the end of the day by God's grace I came out in one single piece, with some stunning pictures and some thrilling moments to treasure all my life.