Bulls come together in thick wooden frames in the sun sucking fields of Pakistan’s countryside. Behind them he could no longer hold anything but the rope – and his pride stood on a man perched on a board.
As animals thunder the truck, hundreds of spectators yell and cheer, kicking clouds of dust and concrete sense of danger.
This is a bull lace, Punjabi style.
Traditional sports encapsulate the raw vitality of village life, in stark contrast to the flood cricket and hockey stadiums of Pakistan cities.
Bull races run deep in Atok district in eastern Punjab. Here it is more than entertainment. It forms part of the local living heritage.
In the village of Maral, an important hub of sports, crowds gather annually to witness the sights. The jockey grabs the reins low behind the bull on a wooden plank, and relies on experience and instinct to assert victory.
But chaos is never far away. It’s not uncommon for the Bulls to break away from the jockey and roll through the dust.
“This is more than just entertainment, it’s tradition,” said Sardar Hasheeb, whose family has organized races for generations. “We take pride in our animals. At this moment, farmers and landowners raise bulls all year round. People are willing to pay a high price for a winning bull. It becomes a symbol of pride.”
The event will have a festive atmosphere in which a shower of dances and bills is thrown into the sky. This is a celebration gesture that is usually related to a wedding.
The aroma of freshly fried sweets captivates the crowd and wafts out of the baking pot. The stole holder offers roasted chickpeas and other delicacies. The lively scene generates income for local vendors who benefit from cultural celebrations.
The latest event, raised by Haseeb, saw over 100 bulls compete and participants participated from all over Pakistan.
Among his competitors was farmer Muhammad Ramzan.
“My bull came in fifth place and I’m excited,” he said. “We left 95 other people behind.”
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