The Greek media have been highly critical of it, and there have been calls for its termination. But the locals insist that the custom is a tradition they inherited from their ancestors. Kalamata's mayor and upper priest have been supportive of the event.
Criticism from the Greek media has led to calls for the termination of the custom, but the local community insists it is an ancestral tradition. The mayor and high-ranking priest of Kalamata have expressed their backing for the event.