Bulls pampered a year fight for a day in Nepal

The bulls have easy lives for most of the year. They don't pull plows or wagons. They are fed eggs, rice, corn and buttermilk.

Then, for one day near the end of winter, they fight, lowering their heads and locking horns on a dusty field as thousands of people cheer from the hillsides in this sleepy village in Nepal.

In this Jan. 15, 2018, photo, Nepalese people gather to watch bulls fight during the Maghe Sankranti bull fight festival in Taruka, Nuwakot, 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu, Nepal. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this Jan. 15, 2018, photo, Nepalese people gather to watch bulls fight during the Maghe Sankranti bull fight festival in Taruka, Nuwakot, 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu, Nepal. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

The bulls push, they shove, they bellow and eventually — normally after 15 minutes or so __ one slinks away and a winner is declared. There are occasional bruises, but villagers say bloodshed is very rare.

Twenty pairs of bulls trained for this year's festival. Each bull wrestles once. Winners get the honor of victory and 5,000 rupees ($50). Losers get 3,000 rupees ($30). If there is no winner after 30 minutes, the prize money is divided equally.

Organizers believe bulls have been fighting in Taruka for more than 200 years, making the village famous across the region.

In this Jan. 15, 2018, photo, Shyam Adhikari, 14, scratches his 11 years old bull, Tare while he prepares it for the Maghe Sankranti bull fight festival in Taruka, Nuwakot, 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu, Nepal. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this Jan. 15, 2018, photo, bulls fight during the Maghe Sankranti bull fight festival in Taruka, Nuwakot, 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu, Nepal. In this sleepy mountain village in Nepal, bulls face off for one day every year, locking horns in a quest for victory and prize money.  (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this Jan. 15, 2018, photo, Nepalese people gather and watch bulls fight during the Maghe Sankranti bull fight festival in Taruka, Nuwakot, 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu, Nepal.  (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

But every year, villages like Taruka are losing young men who leave for cities — or other countries — in search of jobs, money and easier lives. As villages empty of their men, those who remain increasingly fear traditions like the bull fights will end.

Dilip Shrestha brought his 6-year-old bull to this years's festival. He had been preparing it for six months.

In this Jan. 15, 2018, photo, a Nepalese man feeds his bull before the Maghe Sankranti bull fight festival in Taruka, Nuwakot, 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu, Nepal.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this Jan. 15, 2018, photo, bulls fight during the Maghe Sankranti bull fight festival in Taruka, Nuwakot, 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu, Nepal.  (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this Jan. 15, 2018, photo, Nepalese people gather to watch bull fight during the Maghe Sankranti bull fight festival in Taruka, Nuwakot, 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu, Nepal.  (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

"I am not participating in the bull fight for the prize money but I believe we should continue this tradition that our great-grandfathers began centuries ago," said Shrestha, whose bull won its fight last year. "Our small village is known to the outside world because of this unique tradition."

The fights are held during Nepal's Maghe Sankranti festival, which marks the beginning of warmer and longer days. Residents say the fights were originally organized by Nepal's former royal rulers, who wanted to entertain villagers when they came after the year's harvest to collect taxes.

In this Jan. 14, 2018, photo, a Nepalese man feeds his bull on the eve of Maghe Sankranti bull fight festival in Taruka, Nuwakot, 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu, Nepal.  (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this Jan. 14, 2018, photo, a Nepalese man warms up with his bull on the eve of Maghe Sankranti bull fight festival in Taruka, Nuwakot, 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu, Nepal. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Supporters of Nepal’s deposed royal family rallied in the capital on Sunday demanding the restoration of the monarchy ahead of March elections.

It was the first rally by supporters of ousted King Gyanendra since a wave of violent demonstrations by disgruntled youth in September installed an interim government that set fresh parliamentary elections in March.

“We love our king. Bring back the king,” the rally participants chanted around the statue of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who started the Shah dynasty in the 18th century. The last Shah king — Gyanendra — was forced to step down and the monarchy was abolished in 2008, making Nepal a republic.

“The last and only alternative for this country is king and monarchy only” said protester Samrat Thapa. “In the present context and the path country has taken after the Gen Z movement, there needs to be monarchy restored to manage the situation.”

Sunday marks the birth anniversary of Prithvi Narayan and the annual rally in the past has turned violent with clashes between demonstrators and police. Two people were killed during a pro-king rally last March. Sunday's gathering was peaceful as riot police kept a close watch on the event.

Nepal's royal family still enjoys significant support.

The interim government, headed by Nepal’s first female prime minister, Sushila Karki, a retired Supreme Court judge, took over following protests by Gen Z activists complaining of corruption, lack of opportunities, employment and poor governance. They were triggered by the previous government's short-lived ban on social media.

Karki has been criticized for dragging her feet in filing corruption cases.

Supporters of Nepal's former royal family participate in a rally demanding the restoration of the monarchy as they mark the birth anniversary of the 18th century king Prithivi Narayan Shah, founder of the Shah dynasty, in Katmandu, Nepal, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Subash Shrestha)

Supporters of Nepal's former royal family participate in a rally demanding the restoration of the monarchy as they mark the birth anniversary of the 18th century king Prithivi Narayan Shah, founder of the Shah dynasty, in Katmandu, Nepal, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Subash Shrestha)