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Image: SPAIN-FESTIVAL-TOMATINA

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Tomato Battle Paints Spanish Town Red

Thousands of people pelted each other with tons of ripe tomatoes at the annual "Tomatina" street battle in eastern Spain.

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Image: Tomatina Festival in Bunol

Spain

A man falls to the ground as he takes part in the annual tomato fight, known as "Tomatina" in Bunol, eastern Spain, on Aug. 31.

KAI FORSTERLING / EPA
Image: Tomatina Festival in Bunol

Some 160 tons of tomatoes were offloaded from six trucks. As the trucks pulled into the narrow streets, the revelers chanted, "Tomato! Tomato!"

KAI FORSTERLING / EPA
Image: Revellers battle with tomato pulp during the annual 'Tomatina' festival in Bunol near Valencia

To avoid injuries, revelers are instructed to squelch the tomatoes before throwing them. 

HEINO KALIS / Reuters
Image: Tomatina Festival in Bunol

The hour-long battle attracts around 20,000 participants, many of them foreigners.

KAI FORSTERLING / EPA
Image: Tomatina Festival in Bunol

The paid-entry event was inspired by a 1945 food fight between local children in the tomato-producing region.

KAI FORSTERLING / EPA
Image: SPAIN-FESTIVAL-TOMATINA

A resident looks at a street covered in tomato pulp during the festival.

BIEL ALINO / AFP - Getty Images
Image: SPAIN-FESTIVAL-TOMATINA

The tomato fight has been a tradition in Bunol since the end of World War Two and has drawn a large international following in recent years.

BIEL ALINO / AFP - Getty Images
Image:

After the fight, the participants and the town's streets were drenched in a sea of red pulp. Organizers hose the streets down within minutes of the event ending at noon, while participants could use public showers.

Alberto Saiz / AP
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