Pamplona Bull Race: Expression of Wacko self

Spain, famous for the bulls and matadors, rather I must say famous for people who have loosen their nut somewhere, famous for people who cant distinguish adventure from madness and for bulls who are rather domesticated and reared not for agriculture or milk rearing.

And one such crazy and maddening festival in Spain that is in Pamplona is of Bull race which is a highlight of its culture. This Pamplona bull race is such infectious that people far and wide in Spain and from world over come over to participate and be the mad spectator. And the government is part and parcel of this crazy event by helping in organizing and providing for security. I don’t blame bulls who are running but I am perplexed with people who run with those bulls. As there is no prize attached or then what is that inspires people to run in front of those charging bulls. Is it passion for danger, risk and adventure? And wait there are hordes of spectators, people who throng the city walls to see this event which can be seen from there balconies and verandah and also on Television but no, they want also be where in lies the danger of bull coming and giving you a kiss ( well I mean bull colliding with you).

Sending your blood pressure high and low at same times, making your heart beat faster then people running in the race or it may even stop for seconds when that black bulls charging in your direction with those big sharp horns making you get so pale as if suffering from jaundice and times chill will keep running down your spine, moreover the blood will drain out from the cheeks and all this fight and flight responses will happen all together in just the time period of three minutes which is somewhat duration of race. Such an excitement with people around you shouting, screaming and jumping and I can just write for those people who are running as wacko.

Pamplona Bull race pf San Fermin Festival is capitalizing fest on nine days of bull runs. Attracting like sugar to ant, danger loving mongers hordes this place as participants and tourists to see this event, its well famous in world over and therefore people book your accommodation well on time way before so that you get some place to recuperate from such biological changes that you experience in those few minutes of race. As the events are conducted on fix dates from July 7th when the first race starts and ends on July 14th. A race starts with a rocket fire each morning at 8 am. And then race starts with some fierce bulls and some two herds if bullocks running from their pens in Santo Domingo and on to bull rings for a fight in afternoon which is some 825 meter route. And along with them on those cobbled streets run man in white with red handkerchief tied around neck-out of mind junkies who are going to be trampled, gored, lifted up in air and thrown. The streets are walled off and people keep their home’s door closed for the charging bull can come without knocking the door anywhere. Minors and drunks are not allowed in race. Though for such courage I think a swig of booze will help to kick in. the race is divided into three phase: first is The Passage of Santo Domingo, middle is Ayuntamiento and La Estafeta is the third and enter Plaza del Toros. As the race ends a rocket is sounded and people in stadium cheers and there is huge uproar. But if you see out in that ring, runners are running now to save themselves, they even jump and run over a fellow runner and kick them out for them to remain safe.

Such a paradoxical event and such a name to this expression of wacko self, this festival is named and organized to honor their patron saint, San Fermin who was known not for brutality but for saving people from getting trampled or gored from the bull. Such a bull race to honor his good deeds is such perplexing incidence.

The festival which is so widely famous is not just fun, for it has history of sufferers, fatalities, injuries and loss to human and animals. There have been incidents and accidents where people had died or at times very grievously injured since the time this event began and its records are being maintained. But what I grief the most is that many bulls loose there lives or get injured as they fall on another bulls or slip off. The hooves of bulls and bullocks are mostly not apt for the clobber stone streets. We are humans and have brains that an think, that knows this race is foolishness and we are hurting people and animals but those bulls and bullocks who run and get hurt they don’t. Cant we use out head?

One recommendable action taken by some wise people is that loads of people from around the world get together and organize a rally to protest against atrocities on bulls and bullocks. This is mainly held just two days before the race starts, and there are some hundreds of PETA activists organizing and participating in the” Running of the Nude”. Hats off to these animal compassionate people who come in Pamplona and on that parade day they just wear little more then the red scarf along with plastic horns on head, and then run through the streets, to make the people of the city understand that it doesn’t need animal torture for bragging off of being brave and to government that there are other ways for attracting tourism.

An old Pamplona man once said to me “a young man cannot resist the magic of beauty and danger.” And all I could mange to express after that was perhaps. The Pamplona bull race is one wacko way of expression man’s dare devilry. Were they brave men? Nope they are just the brainless, stupid, dimwitted, thoughtless, irrational, imprudent, idiotic and foolish young men!