Hundreds of people descend on the Kamrup district every year, some 70km from the capital Guwahati, to witness the unique spectacle that marks the local harvest festival. Over a dozen elephants branded with competitor numbers are made to fight at the Suwori festival by their riders, known as mahouts. Lashing their trunks wildly, the aim of the battle is to force the other elephant out of the ring. 'This is the biggest attraction of the festival. They are specially-trained for this game and each mahout and his elephant gives his best to win,' said Kulen Changma, one of the participants. The elephants crash their heads and bodies together in front of the roaring crowd in the arena, in a power showdown that lasts for over 20 minutes. People from tribes including the Garo, Boro, Rabha and Hasong gather at the venue in traditional costumes to enjoy the spectacle, ready to quickly get out of the way of the fighting animals. The mahouts balance precariously on the elephants' backs, balanced with just a rope handle to keep them steady until one animal is finally defeated. But mahout Changma insists that the riders take extra care to ensure that none of the elephants - who are trained for months for the fight - are hurt during the duels. After the contest over, it is followed by a 500-metre tusker race in which over a dozen elephants compete. |
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