00:00Some men stood on the backs of buffalos, waving hockey sticks and dancing,
00:04as others gripped nose ropes to steer the buffalos through the crowd.
00:07These visuals are from Hyderabad, where people are celebrating Sadarsam Melan.
00:11Also known as Dhuna Potla Panduga, Sadarsam Melan is a post-Diwali cattle festival
00:16celebrated mainly by the Yadav community in Telangana and parts of Andhra Pradesh.
00:21The streets come alive with music, dance and parades of buffalos,
00:24washed, decorated with garlands and bright colours and worship for their strength and beauty.
00:28For the Yadav community, the festival is an expression of gratitude and pride,
00:33honouring the buffalo, an animal central to their livelihood and devotion to Lord Krishna.
00:38In fact, Telangana government last year declared Sadarsam Melan a state festival,
00:43recognising its cultural importance.
00:45But watching these scenes, where men dance on buffalos and nudge them through cheering crowds,
00:50you can't help but wonder, is this still a celebration of gratitude
00:53or has a tradition meant to honour the animal turned into something else?
00:58Long.
00:59Long.
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