More than 20,000 people were drenched in red pulp after hurling tonnes of ripe tomatoes at each other in the annual “Tomatina” street battle in eastern Spain.
Take a look at this kooky street festival.
The annual event, which takes place every year on the last Wednesday of August in the Spanish town of Bunol, was inspired by a food fight between local children in 1945 in the tomato-producing region. Photograph: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images
The fiesta in Bunol saw 160 tonnes of tomatoes offloaded from trucks into crowds jamming the town’s streets for the hour-long battle. Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters
You can't help but see red during the festival -- all thanks to the tomatoes! Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters
Don't forget your protective glasses to ensure that your eyes are tomato-free. Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters
You are bound to have fun at the world's largest tomato festival. Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters
The festival is iconic, inviting tourists from all over the world. Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters
Due to its massive growth in popularity, Tomatina is now a ticketed event to limit the number of tourists to the town. Only 22,000 tickets go on sale. The town's five thousands residents get free access but the remaining 17,000 attendees have to pay €10 for the privilege. Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters
Did you know India has its own version of the festival? But, we ask, does India need a Tomato festival? Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters