A bunch of us went to this festival on 19 Jan 2014. It isa traditional festival where male camel wrestle their opponents off their feet. The animals do not appear to ever be hurt, and for the winner, he gets the use of a female camel. The owner seems to get a rug and a gold coin. This is the 32nd annual event, and it occurs in a stadium built in pre-Roman times.
The announcement
Waiting to get in
Colorful
On the ground for a pack adjustment,
Then back up on his feet
They bite, therefore, the mask
These boys came prepared. Bbq, food, drink, table and chairs, and even a table cloth!
Some of us from the Marina
Ataturk, the Father of Turkey, watches over the crowd
The crowd is mostly men with a smothering of women
The ruins of the stadium. Much has not changed here since the last time I came to this festival in the mid-1990s
There is a parade before the event
Here venders are selling camel+beef sausages. Guess we now know what happens to the losers!
The area in front of the ruins and behind the sausage sellers seems to be reserved for the "big boys!"
The crowd. Note the smoke from the numerous BBQs.
Camels on parade
65 camels are entered
Parade
Parade
Up close with a biggie!
Need to take a sand bath before entering the area during the parade
And the other side
needs a little more cleaning to become purdy!
(By the way, these pictures do not do justice to the way they smell!!!!)
A big boy waiting his turn. Note, no mask! Must not be a biter!
Camel and beef (mixed together) sausage for sale.
Waiting for his turn.
The female also waits!
Colorful, no?
The arena
More of it
Well, here the camels are done and the men try to pull them apart.
Some wrestling
Some more
and, some more
Here, Zehra is checking out a camel
while the camel checks her out!
A staring contest.... I loose. The smell just is too much!
Fooling around
Must get that cover shot for the 2015 Mr Camel calendar!
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