Harvest festival in Nepal, Assam celebrated with buffalo fight

Referred to as Magh Bihu in Assam and Maghesangranti in Nepal, the winter harvest festival is similar to controversial Jalikattu celebrated in South India around the same time (Photo: AP/AFP)

A buffalo owner holds his buffalo after a traditional buffalo fight held as part of Magh Bihu festivities at Boidyabori village, east of Gauhati (Photo: AP)

Children celebrate after a traditional buffalo fight held as part of Magh Bihu festivities at Boidyabori village, east of Gauhati (Photo: AP)

Magh Bihu is the harvest festival of north eastern Assam state and is observed in the Assamese month of Magh, that coincides with January (Photo: AP)

The bullfight in the remote village of Taruka, about 76 kilometres (46 miles) from Nepal's capital Kathmandu, takes place each year to mark the end of winter, according to the Hindu calendar (Photo: AFP)

Buffalo fights in Assam are similar to many practices taking place in South India around the same time which have been criticised (Photo: AP)

A pair of buffalos lock horns during a traditional buffalo fight held as part of Magh Bihu festivities at Boidyabori village (Photo: AP)

Buffalo blood is seen on the grass after a traditional buffalo fight held as part of Magh Bihu festivities at Boidyabori village (Photo: AP)

The bulls pawed the ground sending a dusty cloud into the air before locking horns to a huge cheer from the crowd that had gathered in a makeshift arena in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal (Photo: AFP)