News:Karnataka government has not been allowing Hori Habba to be conducted following a ban on such sports by the Supreme Court in 2017.
Facts:
About Hori Habba:
- Hori Habba’ is a popular bull-catching event in Karnataka.It is held during the harvest season.
- It is an ancient folk game native to Haveri district, and played on the lines of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and Kambala in Dakshina Kannada district.
Additional information:
About Kambala:
- Kambala is traditional slush track buffalo race that is held annually in coastal districts of Karnataka.
- During the festival,buffalo pairs are made to race one after another in paddy fields as a thanksgiving to the Gods for protecting the animals from diseases.
About Jallikattu:
- Jallikattu also called Eru Thazhuvuthal is a Tamil custom celebrated on the day of Mattu Pongal,the day after Pongal (harvest festival).
- The festival finds a mention in the Sangam literature and is being celebrated since nearly 2,500 years.
- Jalli means coins and kattu means to tie.During the rule of Nayak kings, gold coins were tied to the horns of the bulls, and were claimed as the prize by the winner.
- Bulls (Bos indicus) of indigenous breeds mostly Kangeyam are specially prepared for the event, by providing them with sumptuous food and care.
- On the day of the event, the bulls are let loose from an enclosure(vaadi vaasal) and participants attempt to subdue them.
- It is controversial because the sport often results in major injuries and even deaths of both bulls and humans.
