Moh-Juj festival is organized every year in Assam. However, a few years ago the court had banned this festival. But this festival has started again from this year. But the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has approached the Guwahati High Court of Assam and filed a petition to ban it. Today we will tell you what is this Moh-Juj festival happening in Assam and how the matter reached the court regarding it.
PETA says that there is cruelty to animals in buffalo fighting and This is unconstitutional. In Assam, buffalo fighting is known as Moh-Juj. This is an years old tradition. For the last few years, after the order of the Supreme Court, it was not being organized. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has described Moh-Juj as a part of Assam’s culture. Let us know what is Moh-Juz called Jallikattu of Assam.
Why did Moh-Juz start?
First of all let us know that Moh-Juz -What is Juj Utsav? Let us tell you that this festival is organized in the middle of January. Apart from buffalo fight, bulbul (bird) fight is organized in different areas of Assam. Let us tell you that this tradition has been going on from the Ahom dynasty. According to media reports, it was started by the 30th Ahom king Swargadev Rudra Singh about 200 years ago. It was celebrated with great pomp during the era of Ahom rulers. It is said that at that time even elephants were made to fight among themselves.
This festival is also related to religion
Moh-Juj happening in Assam. Apart from being associated with folk culture, the festival is also associated with religion. According to some reports, the festival begins by lighting lamps (saki) and offering prasad (zorai) to Lord Vishnu. People say that the purpose of this tradition is to increase unity in the society.
Why was this festival stopped?
Moh was banned in Assam till 2015. -Judge and Bulbuli were conducted. But in 2014, the Supreme Court had banned bull-related sports like Jallikattu in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. A year later, the state government of Assam banned buffalo fighting (moh-juz) and bulbul bird fighting. But in the year 2023, the Supreme Court had given permission to Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, bullock cart race in Maharashtra and Kambala in Karnataka. After this, the Assam government had also given permission to conduct Moh-Juj and Bulbuli in the state. However, some separate rules were made for these festivals, which are mandatory to follow. In which it was mainly said that these festivals will be held at the same place where they have been taking place for the last 25 years.
Why did PETA reach the court
Now let us understand why PETA has reached court regarding this matter. Actually, PETA says that Moh-Juz is a violation of the Constitution’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1960. According to their report, such fights are inherently cruel and cause pain and suffering to the animals forced to participate in them. The organization said in its petition that by allowing such a tradition to continue, there is a danger of destroying almost a decade of progress in the rights of humans and animals. However, the court’s decision on Moh-Juj and Bulbuli tradition is yet to come.
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