After nearly three decades, bullock cart racing competitions were held during Nagoba Jatara, which is the second biggest festival of tribals as per a report by S Raja Reddy in the New Indian Express.
It was held in Keslapur village of Indravelli mandal in Adilabad district on Sunday.
The bullock cart racing was considered as a major event during the Jatara but was stopped in 1987 over law and order problems and other issues.
However, inspired by the recent jallikattu controversy, bullock cart race has been revived with people from Adilabad and neighbouring districts witnessing the race with keen interest.
‘‘We drew inspiration from Tamilians who agitated against the move to stop their traditional game. No cruelty to animal was involved in our game either,’’ an organiser told The New Indian Express.
The competition was organised by the Rai Centre - a body of tribal elders.
Mancherial Collector R V Karnan, who is also the In-Charge Project Officer of Utnoor, Integrated Tribal Development Agency took the initiative to revive the traditional game, as per a report by S Harpal Singh in The Hindu.
More than 16 rengi carts, which were used as personal transport, competed in the race, attracting huge crowds of Adivasis.
They also conducted other traditional games such as puli-meka, tokkudu billa, gilli danda, which managed to attract huge crowds during the weekend.