On the occasion of the Vaikasi Pongal festival of Veerasakkadevi Temple worshipped at Sewalpatti near Sayalkudi in Tamil Nadu, a double bullock cart race was organized in two categories, Thenchittu and Chinnamadu.
The Veerasakadevi Temple is located in Sewalpatti village near Sayalkudi in Ramanathapuram district. Given the Vaikasi Pongal festival, the temple was protected last week.
In this event, a double bullock cart race was organised in two categories, namely Than Chittu and Chinna Madu. More than 50 bullock cart racers from Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts participated in this competition. As the competition in both categories began, the bulls raced towards the finish and overtook it.
The top four bullock cart drivers who reached the finish were awarded cash prizes and mementoes. A large number of people stood on both sides of the road and enjoyed the bullock cart race.
The Bullock cart racing begins in November and continues till May next year. It is a cultural activity, popular among farmers in Alibag Taluka in Maharashtra. Local bullock cart owners and farmers mostly organise this race in their villages. Bullock cart owners pay obeisance to Shri Nageshwar during Vaikunth Chaturdashi Yatra in Awas. The Maharashtrian version of bullock cart racing is known as Bailgada Sharyat, a 450-year-old tradition of farmers in Konkan, Western Maharashtra and Marathwada.
Four incredibly fast bulls pull the bullock cart over a distance of 350-450 feet on the race track, and the team with the highest speed is considered the winner. Each team races the track individually, and most complete the race in about 10-15 seconds. It takes a strong grip, excellent balance and amazing courage to hold on to the chariots as the bulls charge toward the finish line.
It requires a strong grip, excellent balance and amazing courage to hold on to the chariots as the bulls charge towards the finish line. Clouds of dust and loud cheers fill the surroundings with pulsating energy. Organising these races is also no easy task. The race track or ghat has to be carefully prepared, days in advance.
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