Bullfight at Netrokona

There are a lots of thing happens in Bangladesh that we don’t know. We

have lots of traditional culture and festival that happens in present day from the

past. One of them is bullfight at Netrokona.

In Bangladesh, There is a beautiful place named Netrokona has a distinctive

ritual of bullfighting. The bullfight happens once a year. In winter season, the fight

happens. The fight happens with two contestants’ bull. The first bull, which runs

away because of frighten on other one, loses the match. Previous night of the

fight, almost every contestant performs a traditional prayer with the hope of

winning. They make a fire in the ground, lit candles and with a hand mirror, they

recite some spells. All castes person of Netrokona believes this ritual and perform

the prayer for the fight.

Before the fight, at morning, some others cultural function happens. The

person, who comes here to perform the extra function, doesn’t come here to get

entertain. They come here to make the entertainment. Some comes with big

bamboo to show their skills. Some comes with monkey to show monkey’s act.

Some may do bidding for their favorite bull. A lot of people come at the fighting

ground to see the fight, encourage the contestant and to get entertained.

The fights actually don’t happen with the contestants but happens with

their bulls. The bulls are being prepared by their master through one year long. At

the fighting ground, the contestants fix their bull’s thorns against each other and

the fight begins.

In the fighting arena, each bull struggles to defeat another one. The

stronger bull stand still and the loser bull runs away from the fighting. The bulls

are well trained. They do their best for winning the match.

The people of the village gather in the field at morn for the traditional

festival of their very own. There is a very positive vibe appears in the field as the

crowed is so much inspiring. The crowed motivate the bulls by screaming,

shouting and running with joy in the field.

The contestants believe that the bulls actually do what their master is

doing. That’s why they do some movements in front of their bull to follow. With a

winning title, the contestant along with their bull goes forward to the next level, a

step forward to win. Loser team goes home with a hope for next year winning.

Losing the game, someone faints also.

The game is not based on only strength but also need some tactics to win.

It’s not true that always a more healthy bull will win the fight. The bull has to be

fit enough for winning and have to perform a maximum level at the match. Some

bull appears to be fit enough and may looks healthy and strong but loses if it runs

away from the match because of fear.

The fighting bulls can be bought with price. Bull price starts from tk30,000.

After each victory, price of bulls increases. In the documentary video,

photography and direction by Masud Chowdhury Pitu, shows that the winning big

bull’s price was tk70,000. During the fight, a lot of excitement happens in the

crowd. Some may get hurt by slipping on the floor or by the bulls as well. Some of

the fighter bulls can get hurt also.

The fighting is arranged by the locals of the village every year. They

announce some prizes for the first three. In the documentary video, the champion

contestant gets a TV. The TV is nothing but a prize for them. But, the dignity of a

champion of bullfighting can’t be brought by money or something else. The

feeling and the earned reputation of a winner are endless. And by winning, the

person’s reputation increases in the society. That’s why they play and enjoy this

ritual game heartily rather than competitively.

This is a unique ritual system of Bangladesh, where the bullfight dignifies a

person’s status.