A management committee of nine members has been formed to organise the annual bullfighting festival in Taruka, Nuwakot.

The festival, which takes place on the occasion of Maghi Sakranti on the first day of Nepali month of Magh (Jan 14), has gained popularity among Nepalis as well as foreigners in the recent years. Hundreds of people from the districts like Dhading, Rasuwa, Kathmandu, Lamjung, Tanahun and Chitwan attended the bullfighting festival in Taruka last year.

Encouraged by the participation, the festival organiser is planning to put up an even exciting show this time around.

Dipesh Shakya, chairman of the festival organising committee, said they were preparing a month in advance to make this year’s festival even grander than the previous years. Besides staging the bullfight, the organiser is also planning to set up stalls to promote and sell local products at the festival venue this year.

The annual bullfighting festival has been taking place in Taruka for over 200 years now. It is said that the event was first staged in the time of King Prithvi Bahadur Singh, who used to reign over the ancient kingdom of Bajhang.