Temple stops bird fight, but village continues ‘tradition’

Guwahati: While the 16th-century Haigrib Madhab temple at Hajo in Kamrup district, about 50km from here, did away with the centuries-old tradition of bulbul (songbird) fights on Magh Bihu, irate locals at Morigaon district’s Ahatguri, about 100km from here, defied the Supreme Court’s ban on animal fights to hold buffalo fights, another tradition, on Friday.
The temple authorities decided to refrain from organizing bulbul fights, in practice since the 17th century, after the state government instructed deputy commissioners to crack down on bulbul and buffalo fights.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) recently asked the Assam government to do away with the traditional buffalo and bulbul fights, citing a 2014 Supreme Court order banning animal races. Humane Society International, India, also wrote to the government on the issue. “For the first time in our temple’s history, we did not hold bulbul fights,” said Dwijen Bharali, general secretary of the committee which organizes bulbul fights. Bharali, however, added that he would explore legal options to seek a review of the Supreme Court’s decision.
“Hundreds of people came to the temple to enjoy bulbul fights. But they left dejected. We respect the Supreme Court and decided to abide by its order. We will see if the order can be reviewed,” he said.
On the other hand, the scene was completely different at Ahatguri, which saw buffalo fights. However, unlike previous years, the event this year was a low-key affair.
Earlier on Friday, crowds blocked a portion of the highway in protest against the district administration’s ban crack down on buffalo fights.
Morigaon DC Rakesh Kumar said action would be taken against those who had defied the administration’s prohibitory order. “We cleared protesters off the highway. They tried to block the railway tracks but we prevented it. We will definitely take legal action against those who defied the prohibition,” Kumar added.
Organizers of the Ahatguri buffalo fight denied being involved in the protests or even holding the fight.
“We stayed away from organizing the event following the prohibition. Those who held the buffalo fight on Friday did not take our permission. We are not involved,” said joint secretary of the Ahatguri buffalo fight organizing committee, Mukul Das.
Das said it was the spectators who protested.
“They (the spectators) were taken aback when they learnt that they were not going to witness buffalo fights this Magh Bihu,” Das added. Buffalo fights were held in a low-key manner at Nazira in Sivasagar district, defying the apex court order.