They are still judged on their opulence today, but the years have found a far more exciting way to separate the strong from the weak. In a carefully regulated order, the still inebriated carriers face off against each other. Then all hell breaks loose. Like two enormous, drunken sumo wrestlers they race towards each other. With an almighty crack they lock cedar frames and begin to struggle.
Maniacal participants shove, jerk and strain in an attempt to cripple the opposition.
The rules are unclear, but the whoops and wails of the respective teams reveal who has the upper hand. The stakes are high, and it is not unusual for the tension to reach breaking point. In one particularly close encounter, the cedar floats were quickly forgotten as a well-timed fist floored one of the opposition. The colourful costumes leant a certain elegance to the ensuing fist fight. Perhaps it was the same elegance that led the police to simply look on.