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'Old Delhi': The City of Thousand Pigeons

Published September 12th, 2019 - 11:24 GMT

Pigeon keeping is known as a popular hobby in Old Delhi, among those who can afford it. Some pigeons are trained to fight, others are fast, some are noted for their endurance.

On the other hand, recently there are still so many pigeon keepers have to follow a timetable so that flocks don't clash.

The practice first gained popularity during Mughal rule, when the birds were used for communication, and when Shahjahanabad was first built there were rival pigeon clubs all over the city.

 

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In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper (R) tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper (R) tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, pigeons rest on the roof of their keeper's house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, pigeons rest on the roof of their keeper's house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper puts a plastic ring on the feet of his pigeon on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper puts a plastic ring on the feet of his pigeon on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on January 30, 2019, a keeper tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on January 30, 2019, a keeper tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on December 2, 2018, customers check pigeons at a market in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on December 2, 2018, customers check pigeons at a market in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper feeds his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper feeds his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on December 2, 2018, a vendor selling pigeons wait for customers at a market in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on December 2, 2018, a vendor selling pigeons wait for customers at a market in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper (R) tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, pigeons rest on the roof of their keeper's house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper puts a plastic ring on the feet of his pigeon on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on January 30, 2019, a keeper tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on December 2, 2018, customers check pigeons at a market in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper feeds his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on December 2, 2018, a vendor selling pigeons wait for customers at a market in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper (R) tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper (R) tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, pigeons rest on the roof of their keeper's house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, pigeons rest on the roof of their keeper's house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper puts a plastic ring on the feet of his pigeon on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper puts a plastic ring on the feet of his pigeon on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on January 30, 2019, a keeper tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on January 30, 2019, a keeper tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper tends his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on December 2, 2018, customers check pigeons at a market in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on December 2, 2018, customers check pigeons at a market in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper feeds his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on February 3, 2019, a keeper feeds his pigeons on the roof of his house in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on December 2, 2018, a vendor selling pigeons wait for customers at a market in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
In this photograph taken on December 2, 2018, a vendor selling pigeons wait for customers at a market in the old quarters of New Delhi. Pigeon flying, locally known as Kabootar Bazi, is a popular hobby among people living in the old quarters of the capital city. Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP
Tags:Old DelhiShahjahanabadMughal rule

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