GUWAHATI: The Jallikattu ordinance has opened up a Pandora’s Box. People in Assam are now demanding they be allowed to hold the centuries-old buffalo and bulbul fights, which are part of the State’s harvest festival Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu.
Such animal and bird fights were not held officially for the past two years in deference to court orders.
Former Congress MLA, Haren Das, has appealed to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to replicate the measures of the Tamil Nadu government for the resumption of the fights of buffalos and bulbuls, “which are parts of our traditions and heritage”.
Buffalo fights used to be organized in a grand manner at Ahatguri in central Assam’s Morigaon and Sivasagar in eastern Assam while bulbul fights used to be held at Hajo, about 30 kms south of Guwahati, at the famous Hayagriva-Madhava temple.
The Ahatguri Moh-jooj Management Committee has appealed to the Centre to allow it hold buffalo fights.
“The Central government has cleared the decks for the holding of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu. It should take a similar measure in the case of Assam so that we can hold moh-jooj (buffalo fights) without any fuss,” the Committee said. It also urged Sonowal to discuss the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Consequent upon court orders, bulbul fights were off Magh Bihu celebrations in the last two years but buffalo fights did take place, albeit unofficially at some places.