Jallikattu: 22 bull tamers injured on day-1 of this bullfighting festival

The first Jallikattu celebration of the year, also known as the festival of taming the bull, was celebrated today in the Pudukottai region of Tamil Nadu, and at least 22 people were hurt.

Concerns about animal cruelty before of the harvest festival of Pongal led to the organisation of the event at Thatchankurichi hamlet in the area, where some 350 bulls and 250 bull tamers will take part.

Due to a lack of adherence to the rules set forth by the administration, the district collector Kavitha Ramu postponed the event that was initially scheduled for this month’s sixth.

The government of Tamil Nadu has implemented safety precautions to safeguard the safety of the bulls and spectators, including double barricading, veterinarian screening of the bulls, and surveillance by candidates for the animal welfare board.

Bull tamers must also present vaccination records in order to participate in the event, per the administration’s requirements.

However, the larger ceremony will take place on January 17 in the renowned Alanganallur in the Madurai district.

Only 150 bull tamers will be allowed to participate in the event, and 50 per cent of the seats in the galleries must be filled, among other limitations put in place by the district administration to prevent the virus from spreading. Also required are proof of vaccination and negative test results for spectators.

Avaniapuram in Madurai shall host Jallikattu on January 15 and Palamedu on January 16.

Many people have been killed or permanently injured by bulls during the years of this rustic pastime. Bulls have also been exposed to other sorts of brutality and torture, such as intoxication, pouring lemon into the animal’s eyes to make them hostile, pulling the animal by its tail, and spearing it, in addition to numerous tamers clinging to the beast’s hump.

Earlier, the sport had been outlawed by the Supreme Court. However, the law was changed as a result of protracted demonstrations in the state in 2017 that claimed the occasion was a religious and cultural custom. The supreme court is still debating the matter.

During the event, a significant sum of money is wasted, and winners receive everything from gold coins to motorcycles to cars. Untamed bulls likewise increase in value tremendously. According to Tamil history, the celebration was celebrated in ancient times to conserve the native cattle breeds, which were so favoured that women of the time cherished unions with bull tamers.