Now, immunity boosters for pigeons in the city of nawabs

LUCKNOW : Bird flu scare has put pigeon keepers in Lucknow in a spot of bother, so much so that they have started giving immunity boosters to their pets in order to keep any infection at bay.

The pigeon keepers, referred to as ‘kabootar baaz’, have made elaborate changes in the diet and routine of their pets, which they say, would help the birds stay safe from the deadly H5N1 virus.

“Winters are always a problem for the winged friends. And the bird flu scare has worsened things. We are trying to battle out the situation by using our home remedies. I am sure it won’t let us down,” said Aleem Ahmed Abbasi, a pigeon keeper who hails from Maulviganj area of Old Lucknow.

He said clove and caraway seed water is the first thing which he gives to the pigeons early in the morning.

“The water is prepared after boiling caraway seed and clove. Once the seed extract is in the water, the burner is put off. The water is then ready to be served,” said Abbasi. Pigeon lovers are also using other ways to boost the birds’ immunity.

“Another popular remedy meal is small wheat flour balls and almond paste. But sometimes, nutmeg paste can be used instead of almond paste. Wheat flour and nutmeg have anti-flu properties,” said Mohammed Haider, another pigeon keeper, who resides near Dargah Hazrat Abbas in Old City. Haider said pigeon keepers are also sanitising the cages with alum water.

“Some breeders are feeding the birds with multivitamin tablets mixed with wheat flour and other immunity boosters,” he added. Haider’s family has been into pigeon-flying for 90 years and he has been handling pigeons for 50 years now. He largely owns the high-flying variety of birds. Lucknow has around 25 clubs engaged in pigeon sport and most of them are located in the Old City area.

Rajesh Yadav, who owns a club in Lalbagh area said, “It’s a tough time for pigeon keepers here. We are taking all precautions to keep our birds safe. I hope that it doesn’t affect the pigeon sport (kabootar baazi), which is organised from April to May.”

‘Kabootar baazi’ has been a tradition in Lucknow, as it used to be the favourite sport of the nawabs, said city-based historians. “Kabootar baazi and cock fight used to be leisure for the nawabs of Awadh. The sport also became a mode of entertainment for the British army and then commoners,” said noted historian Yogesh Praveen. He said a few families and clubs were keeping the Nawabi era sport alive.

The water is prepared after boiling caraway seed and clove. Once the seed extract is in the water, the burner is put off. The water is then ready to be served ALEEM AHMED ABBASI, pigeon keeper