Organizers have informed that 14 bulls were fought in Mulpani of Tripurasundari Rural Municipality, 10 in Laigaon, 9 in Dhuwakot-9 in Nilkantha Municipality, 7 in Khalte, 5 in Marsyangchhap, 8 in Sunaula Bazaar, 17 in Darkha of Khaniyabas, 4 in Marpak, 11 in Phulkharka, 9 in Budhathum, and 6 in Maidi of Jwalamukhi.
What you should know
One hundred bulls were fought in Dhading on Thursday, the day of Maghe Sankranti. The bulls, which are raised for agricultural work, were fought as per the cultural tradition of fighting on the day of Maghe Sankranti.
The organizers have informed that 14 bulls were fought in Mulpani of Tripurasundari Rural Municipality, 10 in Laigaon, 9 in Dhuwakot-9 in Nilkantha Municipality, 7 in Khalte, 5 in Marsyangchhap, 8 in Sunaula Bazaar, 17 in Darkha of Khaniyabas, 4 in Marpak, 11 in Phulkharka, 9 in Budhathum and 6 in Maidi of Jalwamak.
Shambhu Thapa of Mulpani said that this tradition of people who enjoy fighting animals is of historical importance. This tradition of fighting bulls in all three districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading is linked to the 1949 Bhot Sandhi between Nepal and Tibet. Experts say that it was started by fighting bulls on the day of Maghe Sankranti to welcome the Bajhangi King Prithvi Bahadur Singh.
Thousands of spectators gather around the fields to watch the fighting of the big-breasted bulls, which create dust in the fields. Earlier, neighbors used to fight the bulls in their houses as a fun activity. Now, bull fighting is being done as a competition.
Which bull will fight which bull, age and size are decided. Among the bulls fighting in the competition, the bull whose bull runs away first is considered the loser and the other side's bull wins. Farmers have been fighting the bulls that they plow the fields throughout the rainy season and strengthen in the winter for entertainment, and in recent years, the bull fighting has been done as a competition. Sushila Bishwakarma of Maidi informed that it has been developing as an opportunity for entertainment, meeting and renewing friendship.
If historical evidence is not found, the tradition of bull fighting is believed to be more than 100 years old. The day of Maghe Sankranti has become known as the day of bull fighting in Nepal.
