Bull wrestling

File:Bulls_Ishikawa,_Okinawa_2007.jpg of Japan.]]

Bull wrestling, cow fighting or bull fighting is a non-lethal human-facilitated bloodsport between bulls or cows found in some parts of the world.

Africa

The Luhya community in Kenya practices a bull-on-bull sport.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48452584|title=In pictures: Wild crowds for Kenya's 'humane' bull-fights|date=June 10, 2019|website=BBC News}} Savika is a bull-wrestling sport practiced in Madagascar's central highlands.

Europe

Korida, from corrida, or borbe bikova ("fights of bulls") is a traditional sport in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.

=Bosnia and Herzegovina=

File:Sanski Most Korida 2011 006.JPG, Bosnia and Herzegovina]]

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the fights are most popular in Bosanska Krajina, where the famous Corrida of Grmeč (Grmečka korida) is held. Grmeč, a mountain in the extreme west of Bosnia, is the best-known site of Korida of Grmeč bullfights in the Balkans. These are fights between bulls themselves and there is no death of a bull.{{cite web |title=Bloodless Bullfight Gives Bosnians Excuses to Party |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2017/07/31/bloodless-bullfight-gives-bosnians-excuses-to-party-07-31-2017/ |website=Balkan Insight |date=31 July 2017 |access-date=26 November 2023}} The fight is won when the losing bull turns his back and flee from the fight.{{cite web |last1=Chapple |first1=Amos |title=The Backcountry Bullfights Of Bosnia |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-bullfights-tradition-serbian/32538663.html |website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |access-date=26 November 2023 |language=en |date=11 August 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Cerkez |first1=Aida |last2=Press |first2=Associated |title=Bosnian bullfights have animal friendly rules |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-bosnian-bullfights-have-animal-friendly-rules-2011jul26-story.html |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=26 November 2023 |date=26 July 2011}} Fights happen in an empty field,{{cite web |url=http://atlasobscura.com/place/bullfights-of-grmec |title=Bullfights of Grmec |work=Atlas Obscura |accessdate=16 February 2012}} and have been organised on every first Sunday in August for over 200 years, attracting thousands of visitors. The fights were brought about to Western Balkans, mostly Bosnia and bordering Dalmatian Hinterland in Croatia, by the Ottomans from Turkey, where they are popular for hundreds of years.

The korida of Grmeč was depicted by the sculptor Slobodan Pejić. The sculpture of two bulls in a fight, made in bronze in 2004, has been compared to a confrontation of the oppressor and the oppressed or of the Bosnian people and the Austrian Emperor.{{in lang|sl}} Vanda Mušič (ed). Bassin, Aleksander. Kokot, Staša. Slobodan Pejić. Self-published by Vanda Mušič Chapman. 2007. {{ISBN|978-961-245-325-1}}.

Similar fights are organized in several places around Bosnia and Herzegovina, such Sanski Most, Cazin, Velika Kladuša, all in Bosanska Krajina, but also in central and eastern parts of the country, such as Vitez and Olovo's nearby villages Čevljanovići and Boganovići.{{cite web |last1=Sarajevo |first1=N1 |title=Tragedy nearly avoided when bulls breached fence at bullfighting event in Bosnia |url=https://n1info.ba/english/news/tragedy-nearly-avoided-when-bulls-breach-fence-at-bullfighting-event-in-bosnia/ |website=N1 |access-date=26 November 2023 |language=bs-BA |date=2 August 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Sito-Sucic |first1=Daria |title=Bosnia's 'Bullfight Queen' brings a woman's touch to centuries-old spectacle |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bosnia-bullfights-idUSKCN0HQ3IW20141001/ |website=Reuters |access-date=26 November 2023 |date=1 October 2014}}

=Croatia=

In Croatia, koridas are traditionally organized in Dalmatian Hinterland region.{{cite web|last1=(www.dw.com)|first1=Deutsche Welle|title=Nepoznata atrakcija u Hrvatskoj: Borbe bikova {{!}} Panorama {{!}} DW {{!}} 26.07.2017|url=http://www.dw.com/bs/nepoznata-atrakcija-u-hrvatskoj-borbe-bikova/a-39837182|website=DW.COM|language=bs}}

East and Southeast Asia

File:Bullfighting in Yamakoshi, Nagaoka 2.webm, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan]]

Tōgyū, known by some as "Okinawan bullfighting", is the traditional sport, in which two bulls attempt, as in sumo wrestling, to push one another out of a ring.{{cite book|author=Susan Sered Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology Bar-Ilan University|title=Women of the Sacred Groves : Divine Priestesses of Okinawa: Divine Priestesses of Okinawa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T0wIW7d8G1sC&pg=PA119|accessdate=15 September 2013|date=12 February 1999|publisher=Oxford University Press, USA|isbn=978-0-19-535233-7|pages=119–}} It is still practised in the various places in Japan, such as Niigata, Okinawa and Shimane Prefectures.
Sossaum ({{langx|ko|소싸움}}) is a traditional sport of Korea, in which two oxen are pitted against each other.{{cite book|author=The National Folk Museum of Korea (South Korea)|title=Encyclopedia of Korean Seasonal Customs: Encyclopedia of Korean Folklore and Traditional Culture Vol. 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xsR3BgAAQBAJ&pg=PA225|date=30 October 2014|publisher=길잡이미디어|isbn=978-89-92128-92-6|pages=225–}}
Bullfighting is also observed by the ethnic Hmong/Miao minority in China, Vietnam and Laos. Bulls are selected by age, horn length and size. They are enticed to fight usually after new year's or summer events. They are usually non-lethal events and bulls that carry the opposing bulls will get the most points if it is a draw. The loser is usually the bull that flees first even if winning.

South Asia

File:Bullfighting Statue at Shilpacharjo Zainul Abedin Folk Arts and Crafts Museum, Bangladesh..jpg Folk Arts and Crafts Museum, Bangladesh]]

=India=

Dhiri or Dhirio (Konkani: धिरी,धिरयो) is a popular form of traditional bull wrestling in the state of Goa, Coastal South West India. It was the weekend entertainment staple for most villages. Many families lived off the earnings made on appearance money and bets alone.{{cite news|last1=Kamat Maad|first1=Govind|title=Dhirio: Bullish about a banned fight|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Dhirio-Bullish-about-a-banned-fight/articleshow/3625723.cms|accessdate=26 April 2015|agency=TNN|work=The times of India|date=Oct 22, 2008}} The Panaji Bench of the high Court vide order dated 20.12.96 directed the State Government to take immediate steps to ban all types of animal fights including Dhiri organised in the State of Goa, which was finally banned in 1997.{{cite book|last1=India. Parliament. House of the People|title=Lok Sabha Debates|date=1998|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|page=152}} Dhiri bullfights are still very popular in Goa despite the ban. There have been demands for legalizing Dhiri.{{cite news|title=UGDP claims credit for legalising dhirios|url=http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/The-Sunday-Roundtable/ugdp-claims-credit-for-legalising-dhirios/25299.html|accessdate=26 April 2015|work=O Heraldo|date=26 Mar 2009|archive-date=10 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610065913/http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/The-Sunday-Roundtable/ugdp-claims-credit-for-legalising-dhirios/25299.html|url-status=dead}}

=Nepal=

File:Bullfight in Taruka.JPG

File:Taruka Bullfight.JPG

Every year on the day of Maghe Sankranti in different districts of Nepal bull wrestling is organized. The most oldest and popular bull wrestling of Nepal is of Taruka, Nuwakot, {{convert|75|km}} away from Kathmandu. It is believed to have started in the early years of the 18th century as source of entertainment for nobles while visiting the village. Many people from around the country visit Taruka to witness this event. Other than Nuwakot bull wrestling is also organized in Dhading and Rasuwa.

Western Asia

= Iran =

VarzaJang is a bloodsport organized between bulls in the north of Iran. This wrestling is organized only in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces.VarzaJang takes place mainly in Mazandaran in Amol, Noor, Chamestan and Nowshahr and in Gilan in Rudsar, Lahijan, Chaboksar, Rasht and Khomam.{{Cite web |last=Foundation |first=Encyclopaedia Iranica |title=Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica |url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/gavbazi |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=iranicaonline.org |language=en-US}}

= Oman and the United Arab Emirates =

File:Oman bullfighting (5).jpg

In Oman and the United Arab Emirates two Brahman bulls are presented to each other and allowed to lock horns and fight, while their handlers hold ropes to separate them if necessary.{{cite book|author=Diana Darke|title=Oman: The Bradt Travel Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J6QKSXYG5tYC&pg=PA29|accessdate=15 September 2013|year=2010|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1-84162-332-0|pages=29–}}{{r|rough}} The origins of bullfighting in Oman are unknown, though locals believe it was brought here by the Moors who had conquered Spain. Its existence in Oman and the UAE is also attributed to Portugal, which colonized the Omani coastline for nearly two centuries,{{Cite web |url=http://www.mangalorean.com/browsearticles.php?arttype=Feature&articleid=284 |title=Mangalorean.Com- Serving Mangaloreans Around The World! |access-date=2015-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001233607/http://www.mangalorean.com/browsearticles.php?arttype=Feature&articleid=284 |archive-date=2011-10-01 |url-status=dead }}{{cite book|author1=Ibrahim Abed|author2=Peter Hellyer|title=United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QcMz3zV0qAMC&pg=PA72|accessdate=15 September 2013|year=2001|publisher=Trident Press Ltd|isbn=978-1-900724-47-0|pages=72–}} and also introduced bullfighting to Omani Zanzibar.{{cite book|title=Africa Analysis: The Fortnightly Bulletin on Financial and Political Trends|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k8C1AAAAIAAJ|accessdate=15 September 2013|year=2004|publisher=Africa Analysis|page=cxxxi}}

=Turkey=

Bull wrestling in Turkey is known as boğa güreşi (literally "bull wrestling"). Each year in the third week of June, the Kafkasör (Caucasus) festival takes place in the city of Artvin. At the beginning of the festival, certain rules are applied in order to save the bulls from injury. For example, if a bull retreats from the fight, it means defeat, etc.{{cite book|author=Diana Darke|title=Eastern Turkey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U9WwsQE6AJ4C&pg=PA334|accessdate=15 September 2013|year=2011|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1-84162-339-9|pages=334–}}

Islamic law

On 17 October 1987, the Muslim World League issued a fatwa declaring bullfighting and animal pits to be forbidden under Islamic law.[http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/134 حكم الملاكمة ومصارعة الثيران والمصارعة الحرة |]

References

{{reflist|refs=

[https://web.archive.org/web/20140908063410/http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/middle-east/oman/al-batinah-al-dhahirah/bullfighting-à-la-batinah/ Bullfighting à la Batinah]. Rough Guides. Archived 8 September 2014.

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