Participants arrive with their bulls ahead of the annual Pedgaon traditional bullock-cart racing festival in Maharashtra's Satara district on June 20, 2026. Bailgada Sharyat, or the bullock-cart race, is one of the most popular rural sports in India's richest state, Maharashtra. The 400-year-old traditional event draws over 1,000 competitors and thousands of onlookers to Satara every year. Deeply ingrained in the state's rural culture, bullock-cart racing continues to be a representation of agricultural heritage and communal pride. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP via Getty Images)

Participants rest with their bull ahead of the annual Pedgaon traditional bullock-cart racing festival in Maharashtra's Satara district on June 20, 2026. Bailgada Sharyat, or the bullock-cart race, is one of the most popular rural sports in India's richest state, Maharashtra. The 400-year-old traditional event draws over 1,000 competitors and thousands of onlookers to Satara every year. Deeply ingrained in the state's rural culture, bullock-cart racing continues to be a representation of agricultural heritage and communal pride. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP via Getty Images)

Local villagers run for cover as a racer tries to control his bulls during of the annual Pedgaon traditional bullock-cart racing festival in Maharashtra's Satara district on June 21, 2026. Bailgada Sharyat, or the bullock-cart race, is one of the most popular rural sports in India's richest state, Maharashtra. The 400-year-old traditional event draws over 1,000 competitors and thousands of onlookers to Satara every year. Deeply ingrained in the state's rural culture, bullock-cart racing continues to be a representation of agricultural heritage and communal pride. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP via Getty Images)

Participants take care of their bull ahead of the annual Pedgaon traditional bullock-cart racing festival in Maharashtra's Satara district on June 20, 2026. Bailgada Sharyat, or the bullock-cart race, is one of the most popular rural sports in India's richest state, Maharashtra. The 400-year-old traditional event draws over 1,000 competitors and thousands of onlookers to Satara every year. Deeply ingrained in the state's rural culture, bullock-cart racing continues to be a representation of agricultural heritage and communal pride. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP via Getty Images)

Participants ride their traditional bullock-carts during the annual Pedgaon bullock-cart race festival in Maharashtra's Satara district on June 21, 2026. Bailgada Sharyat, or the bullock-cart race, is one of the most popular rural sports in India's richest state, Maharashtra. The 400-year-old traditional event draws over 1,000 competitors and thousands of onlookers to Satara every year. Deeply ingrained in the state's rural culture, bullock-cart racing continues to be a representation of agricultural heritage and communal pride. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP via Getty Images)

Participants ride their traditional bullock-carts during the annual Pedgaon bullock-cart race festival in Maharashtra's Satara district on June 21, 2026. Bailgada Sharyat, or the bullock-cart race, is one of the most popular rural sports in India's richest state, Maharashtra. The 400-year-old traditional event draws over 1,000 competitors and thousands of onlookers to Satara every year. Deeply ingrained in the state's rural culture, bullock-cart racing continues to be a representation of agricultural heritage and communal pride. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP via Getty Images)

Participants prepare their bull during the annual Pedgaon traditional bullock-cart racing festival in Maharashtra's Satara district on June 21, 2026. Bailgada Sharyat, or the bullock-cart race, is one of the most popular rural sports in India's richest state, Maharashtra. The 400-year-old traditional event draws over 1,000 competitors and thousands of onlookers to Satara every year. Deeply ingrained in the state's rural culture, bullock-cart racing continues to be a representation of agricultural heritage and communal pride. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP via Getty Images)

A local villager sits on a empty stand ahead of the annual Pedgaon traditional bullock-cart racing festival in Maharashtra's Satara district on June 20, 2026. Bailgada Sharyat, or the bullock-cart race, is one of the most popular rural sports in India's richest state, Maharashtra. The 400-year-old traditional event draws over 1,000 competitors and thousands of onlookers to Satara every year. Deeply ingrained in the state's rural culture, bullock-cart racing continues to be a representation of agricultural heritage and communal pride. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP via Getty Images)