Thousands of revelers from across the globe gathered in the eastern Spanish town of Buñol for the annual La Tomatina festival, a massive food fight where streets are drenched in tomato pulp. The event, held on the last Wednesday in August, saw participants hurling millions of tomatoes at one another.
The tradition traces its roots back to a spontaneous food fight among local children in 1945. Over the years, La Tomatina has grown into an international spectacle, with interest significantly boosted after its depiction in a 2011 Bollywood film, 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'. This cinematic exposure has drawn a notable increase in visitors from India in recent years.
Trucks delivered tons of over-ripe tomatoes to the town, where an estimated 20,000 people engaged in the hour-long melee. Participants, many wearing protective goggles, transformed the town's streets into a sea of red. White clothing quickly turned pink and red amid the festive atmosphere, accompanied by loud music.
Participation in La Tomatina has been ticketed since 2013, with non-local attendees paying 15 euros ($17.50) for entry. This measure was introduced after officials noted that the growing number of foreign visitors was overwhelming the town. Approximately 40 percent of participants in recent years have been tourists from outside Spain.
While the event is primarily celebrated by locals, its international appeal is evident. Visitors from countries including India and Poland have cited the 2011 film as their inspiration for attending. "Way more crazy than we expected," said Joanna Wytrzyszczewska, 32, from Poland. "We came because we were inspired by a movie. It was better than the movie."
Similar tomato-flinging events have been organized in various locations worldwide, including Florida, London, Amsterdam, Colombia, and India.
The festival adheres to one primary rule: participants must squash tomatoes before throwing them to prevent injuries. The event concludes with the sound of a cannon blast, signaling the end of the hour-long fight. Afterward, communal showers are available, and authorities hose down the streets. Notably, the citric acid from the tomatoes is said to have a cleaning effect, often leaving Buñol's streets cleaner than before the festivities.
La Tomatina was banned by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in the 1950s but was revived and eventually became a national and international attraction, significantly boosting the local economy.