Guwahati: Defying to the Supreme court ban on any kind of animal fights during religious and cultural festivals, buffalo fights (Mohjuj) have been organized in Central Assam’s Morigaon district on the mark of Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu celebrations on Monday.
Over 20,000 people had gathered at the field of Ahatguri area in Morigaon district near NH-37 to witness the buffalo fights.
The crowd had enjoyed at least 20 pairs of buffalo pitching against each other.
Buffalo fights have been traditionally organized in central Assam and upper Assam on the mark of Magh Bihu celebrations since past couple of decades.
The traditional buffalo fights have been organized at Ahatguri area during the harvest festive season since 1974.
In 2014, the Supreme Court, while hearing the case of the Animal Welfare Board of India had passed an order of banning all animal races and fights in the country.
Following the apex court order, the traditional buffalo fights were not officially held in Assam in past three years, but the Aahatguri Buffalo Fight Organising Committee in central Assam’s Morigaon district had organised the traditional fight on Monday despite of the court ban.
Meanwhile, Hayagriba Madhav temple at Hajo in Kamrup district had refrained from holding the traditional Bulbuli bird (Songbird) fight on the mark of Magh Bihu celebrations.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
