BULL RACE by Rehamt Tunio

BULL RACE  

Feature by Rehamt Tunio 

Feb 22, 2015 at 2:53 PM

                   When the one’s favourite bull wins the race , sounds like  “Aayo Aayo Badshah Aayo” “Ali Ali Hyder” Asan jo khati Aayo khair san Ho Jamalo” dancing, thunderous clapping, shouting, drums (Dhole) beat follow the clapping, roars and also chants set the mood of the all spectators in the crowed, and also attract the other passers-by to see the competition.  Everybody sit, stand enthusiastically awaiting the approaching thrill of the competition by saying the different Sindhi sayings, “Dagho Paer paeran Daghay jo mulh Hazar.”

If you think surfing, snowboarding and the oxen race (Spain’s oldest and traditional game, in which people run with holding a red cloth in their hands in front of the bulls.) are extreme sports, then you probably never seen what happens in Pakistan during traditional bovine races, it involves bulls, a board(wooden plank) and drift.

Tens of thousands of people gather whenever there is bull race held in Sindh. We see the competition of bull race in many parts of country, but there is different joy of race when it is in Sindh. It is very famous in our different districts, Specially in Larkana , Nawabshah and Sanghar, where these competition have been held annually.

Likewise Spain’s oxen race, it is also oldest and the traditional game of the Sindh province, but there is a difference between Spain and Sindh’s bull race. In Spain’s race, there are many bulls who run behind the people, and there is also big threat to people’s lives, many of them have lost their lives during the race. And in the Sindh’s bull race, there are two to four bull’s pair, wooden planks/ carts are tied to the every pair of the bulls, and the jockey (rider) stands on the plank/cart and then pushes the pair to run. In this, there is no any risk to lose the live.  

             

                 It’s there at the race trek that oxen / bullocks are carried to, the area (usually a large field) with great pomp and show. The crowed starts gathering along the boundary. When the race starts, the spectators start the roaring chants, shouting and the clapping, at that time the whole environment becomes as, as we have entered in the new world which is full of colours, happiness, enjoyment and the thrilling movements. Watching a bunch of oxen running alongside each other might not be your idea of a fun time, but add a man on ridding a board on a dirty track to guide the animals and things become pretty exciting. During the race the four people are very interesting to see, and are extremely bearer of importance, from them first is the jockey (rider) who stands on the cart / plank to run the bulls. 

Second is the starter who gives the official signal to start the race by saying ALLAH TOHAR. Third, those who hold the bulls at the starting point (also called them in Sindhi, MEHTARHOO/JHALRHOO.) and wait for the call (ALLAH TOHAR) which is given by the starter.), and last one who stands at the finishing point, who decides the winner’s positions. This man (umpire) is always elected by collective opinion of owners. In these races specially in the Sindh, the names of bulls are often named as Badshah, Raju, Kabootar, Shahrukh,Goli, Rocket,Mastano, Cheeto, Kalashankof,Gori etc.

The traditional competition, attracts landlord and farmers from all round the province where the race is held and they all bring their fastest and strongest bulls in hopes of gaining a reputation. In this race, there are two kinds of bulls, one namely as MUNNI means (owner’s) and second Suwalli (buyer’s). The real competition is always happens between the MUNNIS.In this, there are particular ways (in Sindhi called PATIYU), on which bulls run, and the race is called (GOE) or (MAIL).It is also consists of two, three or four pairs, but rarely on the special occasions (EID, FAIR) number of pairs increases to ten. In this race, there is one special person (rider) who is fixed to run the bulls. To run the bulls in the race is not in everybody’s control, but there are few people who have excellence on riding. And the owners also select on their choices these skilled jockeys (riders) for race, on those riders fees is also fixed, means owners hired them for competition.

By chance if you would go to see the race, you may hear the sounds during the race, people often say these words in Sindhi about their favorite bulls. (“Aa re rocket bs second kares” “aayo aayo kalashankof, duff karees , harhens burst”)  Badshah tay daydhi, Raju tay sawai. These are the movements that compelling to everybody to see.

Here on village field, not only is the owner’s pride at stake but also the entire village is eager to hear the news, “who won the race”. And if it’s your party that won, this is the time for you to rejoice, to celebrate and to boo you rivals. However, the urbanization especially of our rural districts has limited these activities to some more remote parts of country. 

Urbanization and over industrialization offered more lucrative ventures to people in rural societies. So many traditional sports including bull races has started vanishing from scene. To further discourage the people to indulge in these activities, such as gambling, which unfortunately in some areas, has become a regular feature, in this the defeated party has to surrender their pair of bullocks and money to the victor. It is discouraging enthusiasts to loose interest in this simple indigenous and thrill filled activity torturing the animals, that causes injuries through lashing and poking of sticks to make the animals run faster which sometimes cripples them and many even cause their death as well, and the animal rights activists who argued that such races are cruel sports that tormented the animals for human’s luscious enjoyment only.

                               However, with all good, bad and ugly aspects, bull race still goes on. People enjoy a lot and say that, “ it’s our spirit, it’s our traditional game, we love the bulls. So we will never want to vanish it, and  we will keep it continue till we are live.”