First Published Sep 2, 2022, 3:52 PM IST
mWhen the severity of the covid virus that swept the world as a plague eased, celebrations returned once more in the world. About 20,000 people came to participate in the Tomatina festival held in Spain the other day. Due to the corona virus, tomato festival like other festivals was stopped for the last two years. When the festival resumed, there was an enthusiastic response from the people. 130 tons of ripe tomatoes were dumped on the main streets of the eastern Spanish town of Buñol for festival-goers to throw.
This time too, the ‘La Tomatina’ ticket, known as the world’s biggest food fight, was held. A ticket cost 12 euros. The organizers informed that regarding 20,000 people came to buy tomatoes.
Thousands of people threw tomatoes at each other as part of the festival. Finally, by the time the festival was over, the streets were filled with tomato red.
Spain’s Tomato Festival was inspired by a food fight between local children in a tomato-producing town in 1945. The festival is held on the last Wednesday of August every year.
The festival was banned in the early 1950s, but later in 1957, due to persistent public demand, the authorities reinstated the festival.
Media attention in the 1980s helped make ‘La Tomatina’ a national and international festival. As the festival gained worldwide attention, people flocked from all over the world to attend the festival on the day of the festival.
Participants in the tomatyer usually wear a pair of swimming goggles to protect their eyes. Then the costume will be a T-shirt and shorts.
This year was the 75th anniversary of Tomato Festival. The organizers had tried to make the festival more attractive as part of the plan to attract tourists to the country following Covid.
This year also marked the 20th anniversary of the Tomato Festival being declared as an international tourism attraction. La Tomatina is the most fascinating celebration in the city of Buñol.
Since 2013 only those who have paid in advance will be able to participate in the festival due to the rush for the festival. It is also an important source of revenue for local governments. The 2012 festival had over 40,000 attendees. Only 5,000 of them were locals.
It was decided to hold the celebration with tickets following it was overcrowded. The popularity of La Tomatina later led to the start of this celebration in cities including London. In 2018, a Spanish restaurant in London hosted the first official Tomatina in Britain.
