Tirupati: Arepalle Rangampeta, located near Tirupati, witnessed a vibrant display of tradition on Wednesday as the village came alive with the celebration of Pasuvula Panduga – an annual cattle festival held in conjunction with the Kanuma festival.This age-old tradition, observed on the third day of Sankranti, closely mirrors Tamil Nadu’s famed Jallikattu and has been a prominent cultural fixture in the erstwhile Chittoor district for over a century and a half.The traditional bull-taming sport, drawing large crowds from across the region, brings together thousands of young participants from nearby villages as well as neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana.The festivities began in the early morning hours with cattle farmers offering prayers to their village gods. As part of the ritual, the bulls, housed in around 20 cattle sheds throughout the village, were released into the narrow passageways. Around 50–60 bulls ran wild amid beats of drums and shouts from the crowd, while the atmosphere became charged with excitement.A key highlight of Pasuvula Panduga is the competitive effort to claim wooden planks fastened to the bulls’ horns. These planks, often adorned with colourful decorations and images of political leaders and film stars, were highly coveted prizes.Farmers, eager to add a festive touch to their livestock, decorated their bulls with vibrant colours, while attaching flags of political parties such as Telugu Desam, Jana Sena, BJP and YSRC. The competition to seize planks became a thrilling spectacle, with young men risking life and limb to claim victory.To further fuel the competition, organisers announced substantial rewards for those who successfully captured the bulls. This incentive drove participants to engage in a fierce struggle, even as the risks of injury loomed large. Despite the inherent dangers, the excitement was palpable, and several individuals sustained minor injuries during the event.Animal rights activists have for long voiced their concerns about the treatment of the bulls during these events. They decry the practice of forcibly feeding the cattle country liquor and jaggery laced with ganja. Activists argue that such mistreatment contributes to the bulls’ declining health, leading to long-term suffering and premature death.Police, who have the authority to regulate such events, have remained silent, succumbing to political pressures or fearing tensions.
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