Murrah buffaloes to walk the ramp in Haryana

CHANDIGARH: Amid lights, camera and a crowd of 25,000 Haryanvis, the catwalk of Murrah buffaloes would be a tough challenge for the organizers.

As many as 30 buffaloes will be walking on a specially-designed ramp to showcase the rarity of the bread and its high milk yield at Arjun Stadium of Jind on February 22. But officials of Haryana animal husbandry department are extra cautious in managing the event as the animal is crowd-shy and often behaves erratically.

"Normally, buffaloes remain away from vehicle horns, cameras and lights. They may run amok after seeing a huge crowd," said Rajiv Khurana, a Rohtak-resident, whose family is involved in the business of buffaloes for the past six decades.

Aware about the apprehensions, director general of the department, Dr K S Dangi, said, "We will put barricades along both sides of the ramp. Besides, the owners will be asked to accompany their buffaloes on the ramp. We have also called for 70 buffaloes a day before the event for rehearsal. During this, we will identify the shy animals to avoid any risk on the day of event. Finally, we will select 30 buffaloes to participate in the catwalk," he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Sadhu Ram Sharma, joint director of the department, said, "We can't take any risk. Shy animals will be kept away from the ramp."

Normally, villagers keep their buffaloes away from music and crowds. In 2007, while seeking a ban on DJs during weddings, activists of a khap panchayat had cited disturbance to buffaloes by the high volume of music as reason for the same. Devender Singh Nandal, whose bull "Mattaru" has won many prizes in different competitions, suggested that owners of the buffaloes be asked to hold the chain, tied around the neck of the animal, to avoid any problem.

Despite the apprehensions, the animal husbandry department is making all efforts to make it an unforgettable event. "Flowers will be showered on participant buffaloes on the ramp as part of honouring them," said K S Dangi, who belongs to a farmer family.

A film producer from Mumbai, Harvinder Malik, has been specially invited to prepare a documentary on the history of participant buffaloes. "We will dedicate two minutes to each buffalo to highlight its genetic qualities and parentage," said Malik, who has also made a documentary film "Jiske dhore murrah, uska lamba turrah" (Murrah owners are proud on the animal).