Jan. 16: Tradition lived for another day as people organised buffalo fights to celebrate Magh Bihu at some places in Assam in defiance of a Supreme Court ban, but died in the courtyard where kings once watched the sport.

Traditional sports, including fights between buffalos, cocks, and bulbuls (singing bird) have been the highlights of Magh Bihu in the state, but last year's Supreme Court ban on such activities had cast a pall of uncertainty over this year's celebrations.

Hajo, about 40km from Guwahati, in Kamrup district, did not organise the bulbul fights it is known for in view of the ban and the state government's order for compliance.

Protesters at Ahotguri in Morigaon district of central Assam, which is famous for buffalo fights, blocked National Highway 37 and rail tracks for hours since morning, demanding that they be allowed to go ahead, but the district administration stood firm in not allowing the fights, a resolve that eventually went in vain. The fights were also organised at Basaguri in Morigaon district and Moukhati and Kuwamoni in neighbouring Nagaon district, which are also popular venues.

However, there was no buffalo fight at the Rang Ghar in Sivasagar district where the tradition has lived and flourished since the days of Ahom rule and in some other places of the district.

The oldest amphitheatre of Asia, the Rang Ghar, built during the reign of Ahom Swargadeo (king) Pramatta Singha in 1793 AD, comes to life during Magh and Rongali Bihu. It is here that the Ahom swargadeos, accompanied by different rulers of the subordinate kingdoms and tribal chieftains, watched the traditional sports and games from the first floor of the octagonal two-storey structure.

The ban robbed the Rang Ghar of its festive atmosphere as footfall fell drastically after people came to know there was going to be no buffalo fight this time.

Chandan Barthakur, an organiser of the buffalo fight slated to be held yesterday at Dikhowmukh, about 20km from Sivasagar, said they had to cancel the buffalo fight because of the court order. He said the organisers would approach the Supreme Court with an appeal to revoke the order.

'January is the month when animals have a natural tendency to fight among themselves. They would fight in paddy fields during this time of the year. Bringing them to participate at these events is simply a means to showcase their talent and possibly an opportunity for their owners to earn some extra bucks,' said Pranab Dutta, an animal keeper.

At Kuwamoni in Nagaon district, where the buffalo fight was held, borguwal (senior-most buffalo owner), Moni Hazarika, said, 'Our farmers believe that insects enter the forehead of buffalos in this season and disturb them. The insects die once a buffalo fights. But according to scientific interpretation, buffalos labour hard in the summer ploughing the fields but remain idle the rest of the year and, therefore, get edgy. These animals are made to fight so that they can let off steam. Otherwise, they may attack anybody at any time.'

At Ahotguri, about 80km east of Guwahati, agitated buffalo owners finally had their way and organised buffalo fights. At 2.45pm, they rushed to the field and started the fights without taking the consent of the management committee.

'We did not receive any notice from the administration till today, nor did we move the administration seeking permission. This is a tradition and we will keep it alive at any cost,' said Rajen Borua, a buffalo owner of Kuwamoni.

Morigaon deputy commissioner Rakesh Kumar told The Telegraph that the administration had taken all steps to prevent buffalo fights. 'Morigaon circle officer Jayanta Bora reported to me at the end of the day that some people (buffalo owners) took their buffalos to another place near the designated field at Ahotguri and organised the fight. We are looking into it and necessary action will be taken after we get evidence,' he said.

Sivaprasad Sarma, president of the Panchatirtha managing committee, Hajo, which has been conducting bulbul fight for centuries now, said, 'We respect the apex court's verdict but are saddened that a 400-year-old tradition had to see this day. The birds are never injured during this fight. The so-called environment groups do not seem to care for the birds that are caged and sold in the city. We will definitely go to Delhi and appeal for the ban to be lifted.'

Amidst the tug-of-war between tradition and legalities, at least one man returned home happy. 'I trained my buffalo for almost a year and prayed that it wins. Finally, God has answered my prayers as my buffalo put up a 35-minute spirited fight and won a bicycle as the first prize,' said Rupjyoti Kalita of Kuwamoni.

Additional reporting by Kishore Talukdar