Chennai, Jan 17 (Representative) It was a day of rivetting action, as the World famousAlanganallur Jallikattu (bull taming sport) was flagged off by Tamil Nadu YouthWelfare and Sports Development Minisrter Udhayanidhi Stalin in Madurai districtof Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. Minister for Environment and Climate Change Siva V.Meyyanathan was alsopresent and they were later joined by film actors Suri and Arun Vijay. The event began at 8.00 A.M.Reports received here said, more than 150 bulls were released from Vaadivasalin the first two rounds and more than 100 bull tamers took part.Abhi Siddhar of Sivaganga district, who had bagged the first prize last year,leads the pack by taming eight bulls in the first two rounds so far.About ten people, including 3 bull tamers and a spectator were injured, while19 bull tamers and five bulls were disqualified on medical grounds so far.Mr Udhayanidhi Stalin presented gold rings and gold coins as prizes to the winners.He also presented a gold ring to the owner of a ferocious bull which could not betamed. Several other prizes, including bicycles, and other items were also lined up to begiven to the winners.
Earlier, as the bulls were released from the vaadivasal into theopen arena, enthusiastic tamers flexed their muscles to win overthe animals after the Minister flagged off the events in the presenceof the Madurai District Collector who administered the traditionalpledge for the fair conduct of the event. The Alanganallur Jallikattu brought the curtains down on the four-dayPongal festivities in the State.On Monday Jallikattu was held at Avuniyapuram. The event was heldat Palamedu yesterday and at Alanganallur today. All the three werethe traditional venues for holding the bull taming sport every yearduring the harvest festival.From time immemorial, the traditional rural sport of Jallikattu (taming ofbulls), which attracts thousands of people from different parts of thecountry and also from abroad, is synonymous with the four-day longFestival of harvest– Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
No Pongal Festivities are complete without Jallikattu, being held insouthern districts of Tamil Nadu.For this sport of bravery, a specific breed of cattle is reared and theyouths display their courage by taming it. Every year Alanganallur, Avinayapuram and Palamedu panchayattowns would be tastefully decked up for the annual sport, whichsymbolises the heroism, valour and courage of the youth.Jallikattu bulls are not used for any agricultural purposes. They aremostly kept as a family tradition or as a status symbol by the owners.The Jallikattu event has considerable historical significance and isingrained as part of the cultural tradition of Tamil Nadu as a sportwhich was popular among warriors since the “Sangam era”. This tradition is followed till now. It is inextricably linked to rural,agrarian customs and has religious overtones, with familiesdonating bulls to temples in fulfilment of vows.