It’s peak winter and pigeon fanciers are busy participating in pigeon racing and high and low-altitude flying competitions. It’s between December and February, the pigeon sports known as ‘kabootarbazi’, are conducted in the city and suburbs.
Scores of pigeon breeders and keepers gather at designated places, particularly in the older parts of the city, and engage in one of their favourite sporting activities.
Top among the pigeon sports is pigeon racing in which the birds are taken a hundred kilometres away from its home and then released. The pigeon that reaches its loft first is the winner.
“Several pigeon keepers take part in the races. The winner is declared after an umpire calculates the distance and velocity,” said Syed Afsar, who regularly organizes races.