Tomato tango

Mona

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If you have enjoyed Ik junoon from Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, you sure have been tempted to be part of the celebrated Spanish fiesta colouring the town red, literally!

The fun food fest ‘La Tomatina’ that fetches its fair share of revellers at Buñol, Valencia, Spain, dates back to 1945. Some say it was an accidental fight as two guys threw things at each other, whatever came into their hand. There was vegetable vendor next so in came in fruit; others claim an accidental tomatoes’ spillage was the cause. In short, fruit fight made a fun spectacle and there began a tradition!

Next year, people carried tomatoes from home. It did not gain acceptance immediately, the celebrators were detained and the event got banned till some singers and artistes fought for the festival and carried a proper ‘tomato funeral’ with huge tomato inside a coffin! Authorities had to relent and annual celebration continued, and, La Tomatina was officially embraced in 1975. Celebrated on the third Wednesday of August, the festival brings in visitors from around the world. All set for its 70th outing on August 26, the event is supposed to be throwing in 1,45, 000 kilos of tomatoes. The tomato war begins with a cannon shot at about 11 am, as tons of ammunition (tomatoes here) is rolled in Plaza Del Pueblo. In no time, the whole place and the thousands of people are covered in tomato pulp. Second cannon shot signals the end with fire trucks spraying down water on the streets, restoring the Plaza to spic-and-span condition.

To be part of this, you have to buy ten Euro ticket that will fetch you the famous bracelet and follow the rules. First and foremost being squishing tomatoes before throwing, so it doesn’t hurt; not carrying bottles or pointed objects and clearing passage for trucks and lorries bringing in overripe tomatoes. You can check out more details at www.latomatina.info.

Missed the bus? Mark your calendar for next fruit fight would be on August 31, 2016. Meanwhile, play Tomatina Defense – official game for La Tomatina!

mona@tribunemail.com