Traditional buffalo fight thrills spectators in village near Shimla

Spectators at Poabo Vllage near Shimla were thrilled to see a one-day buffalo fight festival recently.

People from over 15 villages brought their buffalos to participate in Sunday's event. Poabo Village is about ten kilometers from Shimla.

The century-old buffalo fight is organized annually and involves the use of specially reared animals which are provoked to duel.

Rameshwar Thakur, one of the organizers, described it as a rich heritage that should be preserved for the future.

"This is a very old tradition. People leave their hometowns for various reasons, but this buffalo fight is organized to bring together people from different villages," said Thakur.

The event is observed to pacify Saturn. Villagers believe that an opportunity to watch and participate in this event is one way of pleasing Saturn to provide both happiness and prosperity.

"This fight is to pacify the God Saturn. We prepare for this buffalo fight for one year and we feed the buffalos with melted butter and husk. We give them all nourishment and that is how they are prepared," said Gopal Singh, the owner of a participating buffalo.

The practice involves two buffaloes being incited to lock horns to claim an area. The buffalo that's pushed off the field is declared the loser.