Bullfight at Netrokona

There are a lots of thing happens in Bangladesh that we dont 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, doesnt 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 monkeys 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 dont 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 bulls 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. Thats 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. Its 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 bulls 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 cant be brought by money or something else. The feeling and the earned reputation of a winner are endless. And by winning, the persons reputation increases in the society. Thats 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 persons status.