Chikkaballapur, 12 Jan

As part of the Sankranti festivities, a thrilling bullock cart race organised by the Raithamitra Balaga at Huduguru village in Gauribidanur, Chikkaballapur district, left spectators on the edge of their seats.

Not only farmers from across Karnataka, but also hundreds from Andhra Pradesh arrived with their bullocks to take part in the competition.

The event was held continuously for three days at Huduguru village, with 50 pairs of bullocks competing. As the bullocks sprinted across the track, the skill of the drivers steering the carts drew applause from the crowd. Thousands of spectators from Gauribidanur and distant villages gathered to witness the event.

Speaking at the inauguration, an organiser said, "In this era of rapid mechanisation, the use of bullocks is declining. Organising an inter-state level competition like this gives new life to our traditional rural sports. Preserving indigenous breeds such as the Hallikar is the collective responsibility of all of us."

The organisers encouraged participants by awarding attractive prizes to the owners of the winning bullock pairs.

Meanwhile, with Makar Sankranti just a few days away, Gujarat celebrated the International Kite Festival, one of the biggest highlights of the state's Uttarayan celebrations.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz jointly inaugurated the International Kite Festival 2026 at the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad.