Guwahati: Angry revelers on Friday blocked the East-West national highway in Assam at Anhatguri area in Morigaon in Central Assam by burning tryes and chasing rogue buffaloes on the highway in protests against Assam government’s order imposing ban on buffalo and bulbul fight which are held as part of age-old tradition during this time of the year as part of celebration of Bhogali or Magh Bihu (post-harvest festival) in the Middle of January.
The events have been banned by Assam government citing a ban imposed by the Supreme Court of India in this regard.
The Supreme Court had passed an order prohibiting all animal races and fights, thereby directing the Animal Welfare Board of India and the government to prevent infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering to animals.
The order also ensures that animal caretakers shall not incite any animal to fight against a human being or another animal.
Assam’s Home Commissioner L S Sangson had directed the Deputy Commissioners of all the 27 districts in Assam to ensure compliance of the directive and prevent holding of any event during Magh Bihu festival that amounts to showing cruelty to animals.
As a result this Magh Bihu in Assam which started on January 14 went off without holding of buffalo fights and bulbul fights. Organising animal fighting is a blatant violation of Section 11(1) (m) (ii) and (n) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
Indigenous people in Assam celebrate Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu (the principal post-harvest festival) in the middle of January.
The main features of the celebrations are delightful and delicious community feasts and merry-making round the clock for these days of January beginning on January 14.
Apart from community feast, people in rural Assam organises buffalo fights and bubul fights, cock fights etc., as part of Magh bihu celebration and there has been an age-old tradition in the state.
But of late these practices have not gone down well with the people and organisations working for the protection of animals rights.
Bulbuls or “songbirds” as they are known, protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, are reportedly captured from the wild by villagers who then train them by intoxicating their food with marijuana and starve the bird a night before the fight.
While Anhatguri in Morigaon district is also famous for buffalo fight, Hajo in Kamrup district is famous for bulbul fight.
