Jallikattu event is also known as eru thazhuvuthal and macuvirattu. It is a 2000-year-old traditional event in which a bull is released into a crowd of people. The human participants try to grab the hump on the bull’s back with both arms and hang on to it to win the prize. While the bull tries to escape. If the bull escapes, the owner of the bull wins the prize. Efforts are made by the participants to hold the hump for as long as possible. They also attempt to stop the bull. It is also an event to honour the owners of the bull who rear them.
Which State organises the event?
Jallikattu event is practised in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is popular in Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Theni, Pudukkottai and Dindigul districts of Tamil Nadu. It is organised as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day in the month of January.
Controversy surrounding the event
The animal rights organizations have called for a ban to the sport several times due to injury and death associated with the sport. Both the participants and animals get suffered from the injuries. In the line, supreme court has also banned the sports several times. But, because of the protest from the people against the ban, the event is still being practiced after a new ordinance was made in 2017 to continue it.
History of the event
The Bull Taming event is practiced since the Tamil classical period (400-100 BCE). Ayar people living in the the ‘Mullai’ geographical division of the ancient Tamizh Nadu commonly practiced this event. The traces of the event have also been found from a seal of the Indus Valley Civilization. A cave painting in white kaolin has also been discovered near Madurai that depicts the lone man trying to control a bull.
