What the Asian Games have to do with a temple festival? | #178
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Friends,
Our honorable Prime Minister recently expressed interest for India to host the 2036 Olympics. The fact that it is exactly 100 years after the infamous 1936 Olympics in Berlin is not lost on us.
While hosting an Olympics is not exactly a thrifty affair, (the 1976 Montreal Olympics was called the ‘Big Owe’ due to the burgeoning debt taken by the city to host the Olympics) there is so much to look forward to when hosting a large sporting event.
This week’s newsletter we look at the brighter side and bring out fun stories from when India hosted international sporting events.
Things we learnt this week 🤓
The 1951 Asian Games was the first multi-sport event hosted by India. It is remarkable that a country that had just achieved independence decided to take on such an initiative. India ended up second on the medals table with 15 golds behind Japan. In an unusual move, the Mr. Asia Bodybuilding competition was also held along with the games as a non-medal event. Parimal Roy, won the title of Mr Asia defeating other contenders. There was no whey that a 16th gold could be attributed to India despite this.
Delhi hosted the 9th Asian Games in 1982. But, as fate would have it, the ripple effects of this Asiad reached even the quiet corners of far-flung Kerala, where a temple ritual found its genesis. It all began with the selection of Appu, the elephant, as the beloved mascot for the games. The decision was made to have elephants parade during the opening ceremony, and the honor fell upon the pachyderms of Kerala. A remarkable odyssey ensued, as the Kerala Government undertook the Herculean task of transporting 34 elephants on a train journey spanning nearly 3000 kilometers. Picture, if you will, these magnificent creatures, accustomed to leisurely strolls, now confined to trains barely ambling along at a meager 18 kilometers per hour. After a grueling 164 hours, the weary elephants finally reached the bustling heart of Delhi. Having dutifully participated in the grand opening ceremony, the elephants embarked upon their return journey, which proved no less arduous. The long sojourns had taken their toll, rendering the elephants sickly and frail. It was then that a compassionate gesture took root - Anayoottu, a ritual feeding of special nutritious food to the elephants, was organized at the sacred Sree Vadakkunnathan temple. And so, the Anayoottu festival was born in Thrissur, a tradition that continues to this day. A relephant festival indeed!
Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010. It was riddled with corruption scandals - we have all seen the SMS forward that said:
If you rearrange the letters of ‘SIR U MADE LAKHS’, you will get SURESH KALMADI. But the 2010 Commonwealth Games also gave us a memorable ad. Indian Railways had never bothered advertising on TV before. In 2010 they sponsored the games and then hired Piyush Pandey to lead efforts. The campaign's primary goal was to convey the message that Indian Railways was an institution woven into the fabric of the nation, a collective endeavor designed "for the people, by the people." The end result was this iconic ad set to the tune of ‘Rail Gaadi’ sung by the legendary Ashok Kumar.
From IWTK, with love 💌
Advertisers use a hack to say they shot an animal ad abroad rather than in India due to regulations.
Flipkart's festive campaign with kattapai and jute bags is not only creative but also super relatable!
Only In India 🇮🇳
Dowry Demand Drives Groom to 'Tractor' of Love
Stay safe,
❤️ IWTK