Buffalo, bulbuli fights held defying court orders

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/MORIGAON, Jan 16: Defying the ban imposed by the Supreme Court, the traditiol buffalo fight of Ahotguri in Morigaon was organised as part of Magh Bihu festivities on Saturday. However, the fight was organised by the buffalo keepers themselves and not by the organising committee.

It may be mentioned that last year too, the local people defied the Supreme Court order in the me of ‘keeping Bihu tradition alive’. Terming the apex court order as ‘unfortute’, local residents and buffalo keepers called the ban ‘an interference in a traditiol matter of the community’, while slamming animal right activists and organisations.

Meanwhile, defying the Gauhati High Court order banning bulbuli fights organised every year on the first day of Magh at the Hayagriba Madhav temple in Hajo, local residents organised bulbuli fights outside the temple premises.

It may be mentioned that, on January 12, the High Court after hearing an application filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India, passed an order banning the traditiol bulbuli fight which triggered adverse reactions in Hajo and across the State with the Hayagriba Madhab temple authority claiming the bulbuli fight was part of a centuries old ritual where obeisance to Lord Vishnu begins with the fight.