Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 610

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ATHLETIC CONTESTS
not only by the Hindu princes and soldiers, but also by
the Mahomedans, who have unreservedly adopted this
idolatrous practice of the Hindus.
It is known by the
special name of ayuda-puja (sacrifice to arms), and is
entirely military
no native belonging to the profession of
arms, be he Pagan, Mahomedan, or Christian, makes any
scruple of joining in it.
In order to increase the solemnity of the feast, the princes
are in the habit of giving public entertainments, to which
immense crowds of people resort. These entertainments
resemble very much the gladiatorial combats of the ancient
Romans, consisting as they do of contests between animals,
;
or
between animals and men, and above
all
between men.
Athletes sometimes come from long distances to contend
They belong mostly to a caste called Jetti,
for the prizes.
and are trained from their youth in contests of the kind.
Their profession is to injure one another in the presence
of persons who are able to pay them for the satisfaction to
be derived from this horrible sport, in which both princes
and people take infinite delight. Ordinary blows with the
fist, however vigorously applied, would not cause sufficient
bloodshed, so before entering the lists the champions put
on gloves studded with sharp pieces of horn. They fight
almost naked, and before coming to close quarters dance
about in threatening attitudes. Then they close furiously,
and deal heavy blows on each other's heads with their
murderous gloves. Needless to say, blood flows freely.
When they have had enough of this, they seize each other
round the body and fall struggling to the ground, where
they tear at each other like wild beasts. At intervals they
but they soon begin again,
cease fighting to regain breath
and the combat does not end until the umpires separate
them and one of the two is declared victor. Covered with
wounds and literally bathed in blood, they retire and make
room for new combatants, who fight with the same ferocity.
This disgusting spectacle sometimes lasts for hours together,
to the great satisfaction of the spectators, who mark their
enthusiasm by constant applause. When all is over, the
prince distributes among the champions prizes proportionate
to the skill and strength which each of them has displayed.
The wounds and dislocations of the injured are attended to
;