Telangana’s Nagoba Jarara festival sees bullock cart race after almost three decades

After nearly three decades, bullock cart racing competitions were held during Nagoba Jatara, which is the second biggest festival of tribals. 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. The advisor of Rai Centre for four districts, Kanakka Lakke Rao, told Express that they want to revive their traditional game. The initiative to revive the traditional game was taken by Mancherial Collector R V Karnan, who is also the In-Charge Project Officer of Utnoor, Integrated Tribal Development Agency, after the organizers sought permission. More than 16 rengi carts, which were used as personal transport, competed in the race, attracting huge crowds of Adivasis. ‘‘Within a short period, we have organised the event and people from surrounding villages participated. We will organise the event in a big way from next year,’’ Lakke Rao told TNIE. They also conducted other traditional games such as puli-meka , tokkudu billa, gilli danda, which managed to attract huge crowds during the weekend.