After a hiatus of nearly nine years, the resounding echoes of Bulbuli fights once again grace the Magh Bihu celebrations in Assam, on Monday.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his family members visited the Hayagriva Madhav temple at Hajo in Kamrup district in the morning and witnessed the bird fight with hundreds of visitors on the Magh Bihu day.
‘Breathing life into our ancient customs and rituals has been a cornerstone of our policies. After nearly a decade, I was able to witness the bulbul fight, a quintessential Bihu tradition which was recently revived by our government,’ he said after watching the spectacle.
Glimpses of the Bulbuli Fight which took place at Shri Hayagriva Madhav Mandir after a gap of 9 years. This competition dates back to the days of Swargadeo Pramatta Singha.
— Chief Minister Assam (@CMOfficeAssam) January 15, 2024
In December 2023, the Assam Cabinet approved a detailed SoP for conducting this ancient Bihu tradition. pic.twitter.com/zmqbDaVtta
The revival comes with the blessing of the state government, which has granted permission for the traditional competition accompanied by specific policies and guidelines.
The decision to resurrect the cherished Bulbuli fights was made during a cabinet meeting on December 21, 2023 marking the return of this age-old tradition to the revered Hayagriva Madhav Mandir in Hajo.
The historic and traditional competition, tracing its roots to the era of Swargadeo Pramatta Singha, has been reinstated following a decade-long hiatus.
Originally banned by the Gauhati High Court in 2015 due to concerns over animal cruelty, the Bulbuli fights are now being reintroduced as part of the state’s efforts to preserve and honour its age-old customs and traditions.
The reinstatement, however, comes with strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), similar to those mandated for organizing Moh-juj or buffalo fights.
The SOPs issued for Bulbuli bird fights highlight the utmost care and safety of the participating birds.
Key points include ensuring the birds’ safety, providing food and water at the venue, conducting the games in a disciplined manner, restricting access to only authorised personnel, and releasing the Bulbuli birds in perfect condition after the event.
Furthermore, it was highlighted that both buffalo and Bulbuli fights shall be permitted only at locations where these traditional events have been consistently conducted for the past 25 years.
