Exactly the same day about a month ago I and Hema boarded Southwest flight from LosAngeles destination the 'SinCity' Vegas and our nephew from the adjacent terminus for Spain, we both were escorted to the airport by our sister-in-law, grim faced, worried and tense as her young son was going to participate in " PAMPLONA" festival which is held in Spain every year in July when Bulls weighing 500-550 Kgs charge and chase people through the streets of the city into the Bull fighting arena.It is hazardous sport,but for Spaniards a traditional spectacle.We all were eager to learn from our daring nephew how well he is prepared to take on the Bull, whether he is aware bulls are color blind and the fighting bull charges instantly, provoked easily and cannot be conveniently distracted.I have viewed National Geography documentary where 'Pride Lions' of Africa being chased and even hounded by wild Bulls and these selected Bulls for the 'CORRIDA' unlike the other domestic are creatures of special breeding and are spared for the event. Nephew smiled nonchalantly answered 'Do not worry athimbar' -enjoy at Vegas; I am prepared; were you coached at your Kansas medical college facility asked her mom! No - but I have seen numerous video of PAMPLONA and fully assured myself that with marginal tact and maneuvers a Matador is able to outwit a charging Bull- firmly grounded without moving much a Matador initiates series of movement with a large cape for which the crowd in the arena applaud for his proximity to the horns of the bull. Hema wanted him to watch the show as a spectator or keep a safe distance from the charging bull after all there is no reward attached to the event.May be for the people of Spain it is a ritual carried on from Roman times and possibilities of life threatening injuries does not deter them. I understand that the Spaniards view this to be as a struggle between bull fighter and bulls but as a contest between fighter and themselves as to how close the bull fighter let the horns come and how far the matador go to please the crowd.We wished safe and secured return to campus for the the medical study also did remind him of having heard of one 'Belmonte' who was probably the only American to have performed in Spain, Peru and Mexico as a Matador and now gives lessons some where in Texas.
- The amusement of Ancient South Indians, provided contest by professional entertainers with the Bull which did not resemble to the Spanish bull fight ,where the scales are heavily weighted against the bull, but here the bull appears to have the advantage the actor enters the arena unarmed and 'Embraces the Bull' in an attempt to master it rather like the cowpunchers of American Rodeo-There is no attempt to harm or injure the animal. The game of taming the bull was looked on as an ordeal to test the manhood of young men; since it is stated that the girls who watched the performance would choose their life partner from among the top tamer of the beast as a sort of 'Tamil Sayamvara'. The stars were favorable to both of us in our different ventures,we did not incur any loss at Vegas and our dashing adventurous nephew reported at his campus on the 24th of July- exactly the same day by sheer coincidence we took our return flight at 11.30 am for Mumbai via Paris. I have a feeling that my nephew the most eligible bachelor will not decline if I invite him for the Indian Bull show next August at Selem in South India
Dear Mr. Vaidyanathan,
ReplyDeleteI am sure your nephew the would participate in the Tamil Nadu practise of jallikattu.
Supporters of bullfighting argue that it is a culturally important tradition and a fully developed art form on par with painting, dancing and music, whilst critics hold that it is a blood sport perpetrated as a cowardly act resulting in the suffering of bulls and horses.