‘Buffalo Fight Of Ahatguri Our Heritage’: Assam CM Himanta Announces New Law To Allow Traditional State Sport

Assam CM Himanta said the buffalo fight of Ahatguri is a tradition and heritage of the state. Even the Supreme Court had recognised it as a traditional game.

File photo of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday that his government would come up with a new law to allow buffalo fights in the state. Sarma stated the initiative will be taken by the government in order to preserve the heritage of the state.

"The buffalo fight of Ahatguri is our tradition and heritage. Even the Supreme Court had recognised it as a traditional game. Following its guidelines, we will soon enact a law allowing traditional sports like buffalo fight," he said while addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a bridge, as reported by PTI.

He added that soon the bill will be introduced by the state government in the assembly, demanding legal protection for the buffalo fight. "With the enactment of the law, people will be able to watch and enjoy the traditional buffalo fight," Sarma said.

Previously, an Assam government SOP of 2023 was scrapped by the Gauhati High Court in December last year. The action was taken because SOP had allowed buffalo and bulbul bird fights during the Magh Bihu festivities in January every year.

Famous Bulbul Bird Fight, Buffalo Fights

The court also ruled that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) violated a Supreme Court judgment from May 2014. The traditional bulbul bird fights on January 15 last year, were held after nearly nine years, after new guidelines introduced by the Assam government.  

Both events resumed after the state Cabinet approved the SOP in December 2023. The SOP emphasised animal safety, prohibiting the use of intoxicating substances or sharp weapons to control the animals.  

The famous bulbul bird fight takes place at Hayagriva Madhav Temple in Hajo, Kamrup district, during Magh Bihu in mid-January, drawing large crowds.  

Similarly, buffalo fights are held during the same period in Morigaon, Sivasagar, and other Upper Assam districts, with Ahatguri in Morigaon being the most prominent venue.  In January last year, Sarma and his family attended both buffalo and bulbul bird fights and urged organizers to adhere to the SOP.