The Olympics of Vijayanagara

PC: Author

As we witness the splendour and spectacle of the Paris Olympics today, we are transported back in time to the grand events of the annual Mahanavami festival in Hampi, celebrated during the reign of the great Rayas (Kings) of Vijayanagara who ruled over the entire South India with unparalleled grandeur and magnificence, in the mediaeval era.

Portuguese travellers like Paes and Nuniz, who spent time in Hampi, have chronicled the nine-day festival in vivid detail. This celebration became a prestigious platform where the finest sportsmen and artists of South India converged to showcase their talents in the capital city.

Vassals of the Kingdom arrived at Hampi on the festival eve and erected 'enchanting pavilions' in the open space before the Palace. These pavilions were adorned with grand decorations, some reaching heights of 'nine stories' and others designed to revolve! Each vassal brought forth the best artists and athletes from their lands to perform before the King.

The arena in front of the Palace became a stage for artists to exhibit their skills in singing, storytelling, and the beautiful dances of their regions.

Among the myriad of sports, wrestling held a place of prominence. Wrestlers, accompanied by their coaches, gave their all in fierce competitions before the King. These bouts, unlike today’s Parisian wrestling, were much more bloody so as to ‘break teeth’ and ‘men being carried off by their friends’! 

Paes also recounts the exceptional archers who arrived with bows made of gold, along with Turkish bows wielded by the Turkish segment of the army.

Horses were another vital aspect of Vijayanagara’s might, even surpassing the traditional elephants. Horsemen demonstrated their cavalry skills, with the ceremonial royal horses adorned with roses, precious jewels, and gems, trained in the art of caracoling and prancing.

Vijayanagara was an era marked by advancements in military which included rockets, guns, and bombs. Paes describes the use of archbuses and bombs by the soldiers. Each night, the festival concluded with spectacular fireworks, launching rockets and various pyrotechnics into the night sky, a breathtaking finale to each day of sport and celebration.

PC: Alamy