Thousands Gather to Bid Farewell to Champion Bull in Haveri
A large crowd gathered in Haveri district on Friday to bid an emotional farewell to a renowned champion bull. The bull, named Karjagi Om-112, died due to age-related illness. Fans expressed deep grief as news of its death spread through the village.
Viral Grief on Social Media
Photos and videos showing the collective sorrow of the crowd quickly went viral on social media platforms. The scenes captured the strong bond between the community and the animal.
The Legendary 'Abhimanigal Pilwan'
Popularly known as 'Abhimanigal Pilwan', the bull was 20 years old. It belonged to a Chincha-Hallikar mixed breed. Originally from Tamil Nadu, a group of friends purchased the bull in Haveri sixteen years ago.
Over the last decade, this champion bull won more than 50 prizes in traditional bull-taming competitions. Its victories spanned across Haveri district and parts of Tamil Nadu.
Raised by Jagadish Nagappa Manegar
Jagadish Nagappa Manegar from Karjagi village raised the bull. He shared memories of Om's remarkable career.
"In the bull-racing arena, Om intimidated the enthusiasts instead of being intimidated," Jagadish said. "Many tried to stop it, but our bull had the strength to advance without being caught. For four years, it participated in bull competitions, gained millions of fans, and became a revered figure."
Final Days and Emotional Farewell
The mere announcement of Om's participation in any event guaranteed a good gathering of cheer-leaders. Om participated in the Bankapur bull-taming festival just four days before its death. It fell ill afterwards.
Despite treatment by its owners, the champion bull died on Friday morning. Fans then organized a ceremony to take a final glimpse and pay tributes.
The final journey resembled a human funeral procession. Thousands of grief-stricken fans moved along in a solemn tribute to their beloved champion.
