Pig fights were held to celebrate a Hindu festival at a village on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border in South India.

The states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh celebrated Yugadhi, which marks the arrival of the New Year, in the Indian calendar, on March 18.

Organisers had brought in several pairs of male pigs, which had been reared for a duel, and set them against each other.

As a large crowd watched, the pigs dueled circling and goring each other. Each duel lasted for about 15 to 20 minutes and went on till one of the animals retreated.

The pig fights are held clandestinely as they have been banned and organisers risk getting arrested by police.

Pig fights were held to celebrate a Hindu festival at a village on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border in South India.

The states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh celebrated Yugadhi, which marks the arrival of the New Year, in the Indian calendar, on March 18.

Organisers had brought in several pairs of male pigs, which had been reared for the duel, and set them against each other.

As a large crowd watched, the pigs duelled circling and goring each other. Each duel lasted for about 15 to 20 minutes and went on till one of the animals retreated.

The pig fights are held clandestinely as they have been banned and the organisers risk getting arrested if the police come to know about them.

The pig fights also draw punters, who place bets, on the animals.

But the organisers deny reports of illegal betting and say say pig fights are just an old tradition they are keeping alive.