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‘Ram it’ is the name of the game

SLUGGING IT OUT: Rams in a fight at Ranebennur in Haveri district on Friday.

HAVERI: “Tagarina Kalaga” organised as part of the Gangajala Chowdeshwari Jatra Mahotsav at Ranebennur in Haveri district on Friday drew a large number of people to the venue.

There were approximately around 80 robust rams vying for titles and it took more than five hours before the winners were decided.

Also known as “Kuri Huddi” locally, the ram fight was organised by the Maharshi Valmiki/Nayaka Abhivruddhi Sangha and Geleyara Balaga, Ranebennur.

The event was held at the open space next to the Chowdeshwari Temple on Medleri Road. It was the sixth year that the event was organised by the sangha as part of the annual fair. “This time we had more number of participants than expected. Ram owners from Hubli, Harihar, Davangere, Gadag and a few from Sollapur in Maharashtra have also come,” said H. Suresh, one of the members of the sangha.

The ram fight is usually conducted in various categories depending on the number of teeth the rams have. Beginning from rams having no tooth to those having two, four, six and eight teeth, the fight is conducted between two rams at a time, till one of the rams retreats signalling its defeat.

The prizes have been donated by various devotees and some political leaders, including the former MLA, Shivanna Tilavalli, Mr. Suresh said.

Earlier, Mr. Shivanna Tilavalli inaugurated the ram fight. President of the sangha Anjaneya Yadachi and vice-president Maruti Kharebaramannavar were present. Once the event began, the crowd enjoyed every bit of it cheering the rams and also advising their owners during the fight. However, vehicle owners had a difficult time passing through the stretch of road near the Chowdeshwari Temple.

Although the organisers ruled it out, people who had come to witness the event were engaged in betting, according to some eyewitnesses.

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