Call to lift curbs on rural bull-taming events

Haveri: Bull owners and enthusiasts in Haveri district have announced a continuous protest from Dec 6 against the state govt's imposition of 18 conditions for bull-taming events during the festival season.

They said the folk sport, locally called Hori Habba and held from Deepavali to Makara Sankranti, deserves priority and financial support from the govt, but their petitions went unanswered. Bull-taming, locally called Hori Habba, is a traditional rural sport held from Deepavali to Makara Sankranti in Haveri district.

Police restrictions have now limited the conduct of these events. Bull owners and enthusiasts submitted petitions to deputy commissioner Vijay Mahantesh Danammanavar and district minister Shivanand Patil, but received no response, prompting the decision to protest.

During a recent meeting in Haveri, participants resolved to stage a protest and assigned responsibilities to prepare for it. Under the leadership of the Akhil Karnataka Raitara Janapada Kride Hori Habba Horata Samiti, it was decided to conduct a continuous protest starting Dec 6. On that day, a procession of bulls will take place from the Purasiddeshwara Temple through MG Road, JP Circle, and JH Patel Circle to the DC office. It is expected that over 500 bulls will join the procession," shared the bull owners who participated in the meeting.

"We will set up tents in front of the DC's office and conduct the protest there, keeping the bulls with us. We will not stop the protest until permission for the bull-taming events is granted. Arrangements for fodder and water for the bulls are being made on-site," the owners informed.

"It is not possible to hold the festival by complying with the 18 conditions imposed by the state govt. A plea was already submitted to the DC, and the district minister waived some of the conditions. However, there has been no response to the plea. Therefore, it was decided to start the protest," declared Mariyappa Somapur, a bull owner.

He further criticised the Haveri district administration for obstructing the festival while neighbouring districts continued to hold bull-taming competitions. In the neighbouring district of Shimoga, specifically in Shikaripura and its surrounding areas, bull-taming competitions are held continuously. "We will hold the protest against this behaviour of the state govt," Somapur added.

"The bull-taming events' ancient roots and the challenges posed by the new rules. Since the time of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata, the bull festival celebration has been prevalent in Haveri district. During the Diwali festival celebration, farmers offer special prayers to cows, decorate bulls, and take them in a procession through the village. They also participate in bull competitions. The festival bulls have lakhs of fans," an enthusiast Ramesh Mantagani shared.



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