The silent, suffering oxen run for their lives at Kakkoor

KOCHI, MARCH 11: With no animal lovers watching, the mute oxen wore the look of hapless ensnared fawns as the macho Maramadi participants ...

KOCHI, MARCH 11: With no animal lovers watching, the mute oxen wore the look of hapless ensnared fawns as the macho Maramadi participants mercilessly shoved and pulled them to the starting line of the famed cattle race at Kakkoor, near Piravom, about 45 km from here.

As the beasts stood perplexed on the "race track" (a specially preparedpatch of slush), hundreds of men, women and children screamed in unison. Thehold on the nose-rope tightened causing the animals to cringe withpain.

Suddenly, the flag went down signalling the beginning of the race and like apowered rocket, the oxen (in pairs) lunged wildly through the slush. The men ran behind them, shouting aloud, and prodding the beasts to run faster.

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The timings are announced. Something less than eight seconds. Thecelebrations began. And naturally, the beasts were forgotten as their silentsuffering has become a mandatory part of the Kakkoor Kala Vayal, anannual agricultural meet.

Maramadi and the cart race are part of the Kakkoor agri fest. Teams comefrom all over the State with specially trained beasts to take part in thefest. "For Maramadi, they come from the Kottarakkara area and for the cartrace from Palakkad side," said Ravi, a local resident.

The lush greenery of Kakkoor is witness to the suffering of the animalsduring the agri meet. "The beasts are beaten up and their tails are prickedwith nails to make them run fast. Sometimes, they’re even given brandy."

"We’ve heard that severe brutality is inflicted on the beasts taking part in the cart race. Batteries are hidden in the carts and electric shocks given to ‘accelerate’ the oxen."

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The cruelty to the animal is directly proportional to the prize money, saysAnirudhan. "There have been instances when chilly paste was applied in theanus of the beast."

But Alexander alias Thankachan sir, a school teacher and Maramadi champion,refutes this allegation.

Maramadi and similar feats are part of Kerala’s agri fests. Farmers rearbeasts specially for the race. "Normally, oxen are bought from Chenkottai,Rajapalayam, Puliyankudy etc. in Tamil Nadu. These beasts have good staminaand can be easily provoked," points out Thankachan. The racing season begins in August and it’s a time for the farmers toexhibit their macho skills to counterparts elsewhere.

"But modernisation is taking the charm away from all this," says Vijayan of Thirumarady panchayat. "Till a couple of decades ago, thousands of beasts were brought for the festival. Their numbers are dwindling. It’s tractors everywhere."

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But the fizz is bubbling at this year’s festival. More than 10teams participated in Maramadi and the proud winners this time are the Thazhekkadu brothers. The losers, of course, the nameless oxen.