Punjab Government Lifts Ban on Heritage Sports

Current Context : Punjab Assembly passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2025 to lift the ban on traditional rural sports.

ABOUT THE REVIVAL

• Heritage Sports Reintroduced
• The following traditional sports have been allowed again:
  • Bullock cart races, Dog races, Horse races, Pigeon flying , Other games from the Kila Raipur Rural Olympics
• Animal Welfare Assurances
• Strict rules will ensure no cruelty to animals:
  • Veterinary health checks
  • Proper food and handling
  • No beating or harsh methods
  • Bulls to be guided only through clapping or gentle voice commands
• Cultural Significance
• These sports are deeply connected to Punjab’s rural heritage
• Even Guru Nanak Dev Ji used bullocks for farming in Kartarpur Sahib
• The Kila Raipur Rural Olympics will return in 2026
  • Expected participation: 150–200 bull pairs from Punjab and nearby states
  • Punjabi diaspora also expected to join