Bulbul songbird fight tradition kept alive in Guwahati

HAJO - The Hayagriva Madhav temple at Hajo in Kamrup district of Assam has kept alive the centuries old tradition of fight between Bulbuls, the birds also known as songbirds.

The locals of Hajo locality capture these birds from the forests and keep them at home and tend them with utmost care. Once the fight is over, the birds are released back into the forest.

To make the birds aggressive for the fight, the villagers feed the birds with a special preparation of herbs and keep the birds hungry for a single day, prior to the fight.

Babul Mazumdar, an organiser of the bubul fight mentioned that this is a centuries old tradition of Hajo.

“Animal activists had come here and they argued with us that this bird fight should be stopped and they told us not to organise this fight but we said that this is our tradition which dates back 1000-2000 years and we are working to keep the tradition alive,” said Babul Mazumdar.

Rupam Kalita, a participant highlighted the essence of communal amity since the Mughals introduced it and the Hindus have kept up the tradition.

“This bird fight has a communal message. Of course this was introduced by the Mughals but is going on in the Hindu temple that’s one of the significance,” said Kalita.

The intoxicated birds which had been starving for a day, are made to fight, targeting a banana and with the stronger bulbul emerging the winner after which both the birds are released back into the forest.

The locals also mentioned that the fight is lively when the sun shines well.owever, prizes are won not by any individual but by a particular group, either Sonari Tula or Bholari Tula.

It is mandatory on the part of the organisers to ensure that none of the birds is injured and during the duel, a veterinarian is always present on the spot. (ANI)