Pasuvula Panduga Cattle Festival

Pasuvula Panduga is a cattle festival that is observed annually during Kanuma (3rd day of the Sankranthi Festival), to appease the gods for improving and protecting livestock. This festival is held in the Rangampet village of Andhra Pradesh.  Around 30 people were injured during the recently held festival with the police booking several cases against the organizers.

Overview:

Before the start of this event, the cows and bulls are colourfully decorated with trophies being attached to the horns. After that, the animals are forced to go through the narrow road leading to the fields, with villagers on either side.

The purpose of this sport is to snatch the trophies from the horns of the cattle as it runs via the snaky path of the village. At times money ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 is also tied to the horns with a winner takes it all policy. Organizers provide all the prizes that are attached to the horns of the cattle.

The controversy surrounding the festival

The villagers claim that this sport is not brutal but various veterinary doctors say that the cattle are subjected to severe torture with the constant beating of drums and making them run around the village. This festival came under the clout after ‘Jallikattu’ in the state of Tamil Nadu came under the scanner of the judiciary for being extremely brutal. The Pasuvula Panduga festival is considered to be a mild version of the brutal ‘Jallikattu’ festival.

Difference between Pasuvula Panduga and Jallikattu

Unlike in the state of Tamil Nadu, where only the highest breed of local bulls is bred, trained, and used for fighting, the poor in the Rangampet village use domestic cattle which are used for ploughing to celebrate this festival. Local youth, not specifically trained in bullfighting, run with the bulls and grab a prize tied to their horns, which is kept at their respective home as a sign of prosperity and pride.