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Pigeon race in Kolkata
by Ajitha Menon

     Kolkata: The Calcutta Racing Pigeon Organisation (CRPO) in Kolkata train pigeons for several competitions, which will be held here during December. CRPO is among the oldest clubs in Kolkata with over 2000 pigeons. The members of the organization take upon themselves to look after the pigeons. The members who have cages on their terraces said they had to take very special care for the pigeons. "We need to spend time on them a lot not just in feeding them but also in their treatment, by giving them necessary medicines on time," said Rabin Banerjee, the owner. "A young pigeon can participate in three competitions. We release the birds at 7 am and its recorded competition time is 2 hour 25 minutes. If the bird returns to the cage before that then it will be the winner .If it comes later then it will not be the winner," said Shyamal Das, the secretary, Calcutta racing pigeon organisation. Different races are organised according to the age of the pigeons. The longest distance covered by the pigeons is 14000 kilometres, from Kolkata to New Delhi.
-June 29, 2009

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