PETA says No to these Assamese traditions. What could be the reasons?

Traditions are an integral part of a country like India which is rich in culture. For instance, the state of Assam in India is state that is rich in unique traditional practices, that sometimes include animals too. However, not many traditions see smooth sailing, especially in the modern world.
For instance, the government of Assam has been eager in its efforts to bring back the traditional practices that revolve around the fights of buffalo and bulbul at the time of the Magh Bihu. However, the age-old traditions are facing a legal challenge posed by PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals). PETA India files petitions in the Gauhati High Court to put a ban on these traditional practices.

The two age-old traditions of Assam

PETA India frowns upon two age-old traditions belonging to the state of Assam that involve animals like bulbuls and buffalos. These animal fights of Assam are linked to the Magh Bihu, the winter harvest festival of Assam. The festival is held in the month of January every year. 

The age-old tradition of buffalo fights takes place in many parts of Assam at the time of Magh Bihu. 
Bulbul fights are also an age-old tradition of Assam, usually seen at the Hayagruv Madhab Mandir situated in Hajo. In this tradition, birds are reared by participants for a time period of 14 days or so. Then, after the completion of this time frame of two weeks, these birds are made to fight and one of them eventually wins. 

This year after so many years of discontinuation these traditions were celebrated yet again at the time of the Magh Bihu festival. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam also became part of these events. The Chief Minister said that the revival of these traditions is an effort towards preserving the Bihu traditions of Assam. 

What does PETA have to say? 

Two petitions have been filed before the Gauhati High Court by PETA India. These petitions seek the prohibition of both of these traditions of Assam.
The petitions say that the events in Hajo and Ahatguri have been investigated this year. The results of these investigations say that to instigate the buffalos to fight, owners actually shoved and slapped them. They even pulled the buffalos by nose ropes. Buffalos had injuries on their bodies consequently, as they were even struck with wooden sticks. 

Moreover, the investigations also say that the bulbuls in Hajo were actually illegally captured. Moreover, these birds were incited against their natural instincts.

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