The World of Pigeon Racing in Panjab

Thought to have been popularized in the Mughal era, when pigeon-keeping was a favorite pastime of the elite, the folk sport kabutarbazi (pigeon racing) still exists in parts of India and Pakistan. Panjab has a variation of the game — keeping the birds in the sky for as long as possible and the prestige and money associated with winning. Although kabutarbazi is not recognized as an official sport, village-level rules are largely followed across rural Panjab. Usually held in May and June, the races are even broadcast on around 100 YouTube channels. The sport has started attracting sponsorships from the Panjabi diaspora in Canada and the UK. While winners typically get cash prizes upwards of $240 and trophies. In the case of sponsors, there are other prizes, including tractors, cattle, ACs, refrigerators, and two-wheelers. The growing popularity of kabutarbazi has given impetus to pigeon breeding. A pair of pigeons can cost between $6 to $2,400. The birds are fed a mix of almonds, grains, and other dry fruits to prepare them for the races. However, animal rights activists have sought a ban on the sport, calling it cruel. To prepare for the race, activists say pigeons are deprived of food and water so they stay airborne for longer, crammed into small boxes or cages, and their feathers are ripped out so they grow new ones. Birds are also given laxatives so they are lighter and can fly longer. ‘At times, they are given drugs to boost stamina,’ claims Vipan Bhatia, who runs the Pakshi Sewa Samiti in Ludhiana. Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney says, ‘Pigeons are not covered under the Wildlife Protection Act. Permission is required only if birds are exotic.’