Bull racing in Punjab is a village sport in which pairs of bulls, yoked together, are driven down a track or around a water wheel by a jockey, usually at a mela or a family-organised event. It is easiest to see in the northern Punjab districts of Attock and Jhelum, mostly in spring. There is no national fixture list, so the honest way to plan is to find the village, ask locally, and go with someone who knows the organisers.
This guide covers how the races work, where the best-documented ones are held, what a visit involves and the animal welfare debate, which is a real one and affects whether you want to go.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| What | Races between yoked pairs of bulls, with a jockey standing behind |
| Where reported | Malal village (Attock district); the Kantrili mela (Jhelum district) |
| When | Spring is typical. Kantrili's mela is reported for the third weekend of February |
| Tickets | No formal ticketing reported; village events |
| Planning | No central schedule; dates are set locally |
| Welfare | Contested; see the section below |
How does a bull race work?
In the style reported from Attock, two bulls are yoked together with a thick wooden frame. The jockey stands on a plank behind them, holding the reins and, as one report put it, relying on experience and instinct (Arab News). The pair race down a track while hundreds of spectators watch. The bulls are raised for the purpose by farmers and landowners all year, and a winning animal becomes a valuable asset and a mark of pride for its owner (Arab News, Taipei Times).
It is not a gentle sport. Reporters from the 2025 races in Malal noted that bulls often throw the jockey off the plank and drag him through the dirt. Stay well back from the track.
Where to see bull racing in Punjab
Malal, Attock district
Malal is described by Arab News as one of the sport's most active hubs, with hundreds of people travelling to the races from across Pakistan. A 2025 report covered an event on 15 May and found more than 100 bulls in the day's race. The atmosphere was close to a wedding, with dancing, banknotes thrown in the air, and vendors selling fried sweets and roasted chickpeas. Local families have organised these races for generations.
Attock has other things to see around the area, and our guide to places to visit in Attock will help build a day around it.
Kantrili mela, Jhelum district
Kantrili is a village in Jhelum district. According to Wikipedia, its annual mela is held on the third weekend of February, with the main event being a bull race around a Persian water wheel. Around 50 pairs of bulls compete to complete the most revolutions in ten minutes, and judges enforce a rule of no cruelty or forcing of the animals, which must complete the circuit of their own accord. The mela also has riding and tent-pegging competitions with up to 340 horses and riders, and stone-lifting contests.
We could find only one source for the mela's timing and format, so confirm the date locally before travelling. If you are in the area, our Jhelum day trip guide and places to visit in Jhelum cover the rest of the district.
Getting there and what to expect
Both districts are a drive from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, but these are working villages, not set-up tourist venues, and we found no published information on parking, seating or facilities. Plan for open fields, dust and heat, little shade and basic toilets at best.
- Go with a local contact or ask at the nearest town for the date and venue. Organisers are usually local families.
- Dress modestly in shalwar kameez, wear a hat and carry water.
- Ask before photographing people, especially women and children, and do not walk onto the track.
- Go in a group, and ask your local contact where it is comfortable for women and children to stand.
- Bring cash in small notes for snacks.
Our guide to Punjab culture and traditions explains more about village mela customs, and our experiences page lists other cultural trips.
Is bull racing cruel? The animal welfare debate
Welfare is the central argument around the sport. In Pakistan the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1890 is the main law. In February 2018 the Sindh High Court, in a ruling by Justice Fahim Ahmed Siddiqui, ordered Sindh authorities to ban privately organised bullock, oxen and donkey cart races and other customary games, including bullfights, ram fights, dogfights and cockfights, because they involve continuous whipping and flogging of animals (Dawn). That order applies in Sindh, not Punjab. We could not find a Punjab-specific ruling or ban on bull racing, so the legal position there is unclear, and you should not assume the events are licensed.
Supporters, as in the Kantrili rules, point to events with judges, no forcing and no cruelty. Critics say any race that uses whips or forces animals to run at full speed breaks the cruelty laws. We could not verify how any particular event is run, so judge it on the day.
If this matters to you, you can still attend as an observer, watch how the animals are handled and walk away from any event where they are beaten. You can also choose to skip it.
Who should go
Bull racing suits people who like rural sport and want to see village Punjab, and who are comfortable with rough conditions and an event that may include animal handling they find hard to watch. It is a poor choice for families with young children, anyone who dislikes crowds or dust, and anyone for whom the welfare questions are a deal breaker. If you want a more organised version of rural Punjabi sport, the National Horse and Cattle Show in Lahore has a set venue and programme.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see bull racing in Punjab?
The best-documented places are Malal village in Attock district and the Kantrili mela in Jhelum district. There is no central calendar, so ask locally.
When is the Kantrili mela?
Wikipedia reports the third weekend of February each year. Confirm with local contacts before travelling.
Is bull racing legal in Pakistan?
The 1890 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act applies, and the Sindh High Court banned animal cart racing in Sindh in 2018. We found no equivalent Punjab ruling, so its status there is unclear.
Is there an entry fee?
None was reported in the coverage we found. These are village events, so ask the organisers.
Is it suitable for children?
It is crowded, hot and sometimes rough, and animals can be handled harshly. Many families will prefer a different outing.
