Kila Raipur's heart begins to race
The move paves the way for legal bullock cart races, reviving a decades-old tradition central to the famed Kila Raipur "Rural Olympics".
The legislation has been welcomed by race organisers, farmers, and diaspora supporters, who had long decried the 2014 Supreme Court ban. The Kila Raipur Sports Society, which oversees the iconic games held each January and February, said it is already preparing for a major comeback in 2026.
"We are on top of the world," said Colonel (Retd) Surinder Singh Grewal, president of the society. "Bullock cart races are the soul of the Kila Raipur Games.
We expect between 150 and 200 bull pairs, with participants from across Punjab and neighbouring states."
Grewal said the lifting of the ban would not only boost rural pride but also tourism, with interest from Punjabi diaspora communities in the US, Canada, UK and Australia.
"We've seen foreign visitors come in the past. With the races back, the crowd will only grow," he said.
Cultural Clash Revived
The races were outlawed after animal rights petitions alleged cruelty to bulls during competitions. Organisers have pushed back against those claims, insisting animals are well-treated and the events are a matter of honour, not profit. "These bulls are like our children," said Gurinder Singh, a bull owner from Samrala, who maintains six racing bulls.
"We feed them special diets, ensure regular vet checkups, and train them for stamina and strength.
"
Gurinder said races continued discreetly during the ban, often held in villages across the state on nearly 300 days each year—except during the monsoon. "The police used to shut them down, but now we can run them with pride," he said. Race insiders claim that small village events — known as 'Chhoti Daud' — carry cash prizes ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹15,000.
But most owners say it's the prestige that matters.
Decade-long Legal Battle
The Kila Raipur Sports Society said that following the ban, various regional bull race associations from Malwa, Majha and Doaba challenged the decision in court. While similar traditional sports such as Jallikattu were reinstated in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra via state legislation, Punjab lagged behind.
In 2019, the then Congress-led govt introduced a similar bill, but it stalled due to legal technicalities.
It wasn't until March 2024 that the bill — corrected and backed by the current govt — received presidential assent. Final rules and bylaws were drawn up with the animal husbandry department and passed by the Vidhan Sabha on July 11.
Sports, Spectacle, Safety
The upcoming 2026 Kila Raipur Games will feature not just bullock cart races, but also dog races, tractor pulls, kabaddi, tug-of-war, and traditional Sikh martial arts like Gatka.
Cultural performances such as bhangra and giddha will be held over the three-day festival.
Officials have promised veterinary oversight and medical facilities for animals to address welfare concerns. "Specialist teams and ambulances will be stationed during races," said a society member. The Bullock Cart Races Association of Punjab, which claims over 50,000 members, also hailed the legislation. Its general secretary, Nirmal Singh — a US-based non-resident Indian — said he owns three bulls in Jargari village and has long awaited the races' formal return.
"This is more than sport — it's our identity," he said.
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