By IANS
Kozhikode : A bulging tummy is a cause of embarrassment for many. But here, a few are celebrating it.
A competition organized by Kerala Hasya Vedi (humorists’ forum) here Tuesday saw 15 people flaunting their paunches to compete for the fattest tummy prize.
The prize – a trophy, a pumpkin, a watermelon and a bunch of bananas – went to E.P. Abdul Azeez, whose paunch was measured at 47 inches by a panel of judges.
“There is nothing to be ashamed about your potbelly. I am not incapacitated in any way by my tummy,” said Azeez, demonstrating his flexibility by making his toe touch his nose with ease.
Azeez is a ‘kalarippayattu’ (martial art) expert and runs a massage treatment centre.
The organisers named the competition “Kumbhamela”.
“We named it Kumbhamela as this is Malayalam month of Kumbham and ‘Kumbha’ in local parlance means potbelly,” said C.P.M. Basheer, general secretary of Kerala Hasya Vedi.
“Potbelly should not make anyone feel inferior. It’s a sign of prosperity,” Basheer said to guffaws from those gathered for the competition as well as those watching.
Kerala Hasya Vedi, which was formed in January 2007, meets on the last Tuesday of every month.