SWABI: A bull race competition took place in the district on Monday after a break of many years, reviving the age-old local tradition.

The event held in Bazidy Ooch Khwar area near Karnal Sher Khan Interchange of Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway drew bull owners from within the province and from Punjab and Sindh, too.

Organisers said the district used to hold bull race competition but during the last few years, militancy stopped the people from holding it.

During Monday’s race, the people of all age brackets showed up in large numbers with the elderly people exhibiting more interest in the event. “We have seen bull race after a very long time. It reminded me of my youth when I used to race a pair of bulls,” said Purdil Khan of Maneri Bala.

Shouting and dancing by the crowd along with drumbeating followed after the competing bulls reached the finishing line.

Bull owners from Punjab and Sindh congratulated the organisers for organising the event, which projected the local culture on one hand and entertained the people on the other. Feeling proud, winners kissed bulls.

“Victory increases the price of the contesting bulls manifold. Usually, owners are offered a good price shortly after the race,” said Bashir Adil of Attock (Punjab).

He said owners got the sought-after money if they wanted to sell winning bulls.

Jabeen Khan, a cattle vendor from Chota Lahor, said he gave a special diet to his bulls to help them grow healthy and strong.

He said his bulls rehearsed before the race and that rehearsal helped them win the race.

The vendor said he had been participating in bull races around the country for three years and it was the first time that his bulls had turned out to be winner.

The participants welcomed the holding of the event saying it had revived the age-old local tradition. They demanded of all provincial tourism departments to jointly organise such events to promote bull race and promote mutual cultural harmony.