Sucre, Colombia, Dec 23 : A festival of amateur bullfights commonly known as "Corralejas" opened Thursday in the Colombian state of Sucre.
Every year, hundreds of amateur bull fighters risk their lives jumping into an arena to taunt 1,000-pound (455 kilogram) bulls in Colombia's unruly bull festivals.
The six-day festival is described by locals as an explosive and sometimes lethal mixture of alcohol, drugs, music, violence and machismo."This is a local custom," says resident Gustavo Guevar.
"But I don't agree with it, because they are endangering themselves. They do this (bullfighting) on drugs, or drunk and endanger their lives."
An average of 20 participants die each year in the "Corralejas," which have been held annually for more than 150 years in towns across Colombia's northern plains.
Cattle ranchers bring their animals and give away money, food and alcohol to the participants.
In the arena the only certain survivors are the bulls themselves.Unlike more traditional bullfights with professional matadors, it is forbidden to kill the animals.
