Veera Tamilan

JALLIKATTU

Ancient Tamil sangams described the practice as yeru thazhuvuthal, literally 'bull embracing' The modern term jallikattu  or sallikattu is derived from salli ('coins') and kattu ('package'), which refers to a prize of coins that are tied to the bull's horns and that participants attempt to retrieve.Manju virattu  literally means 'bull chasing'.

Jallikattu, also known as eru thazhuvuthal and manchuvirattu, is a traditional event in which a bull  such as the Pulikulam or Kangayam breeds  is released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. Participants hold the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. In some cases, participants must ride long enough to remove flags on the bull's horns^]

Jallikattu is typically practised in the Indian state of Tamil nadu a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu poogal day, which occurs annually in January.

Jallikattu has been known to be practiced during the Tamil nadu Classical Period (400-100 BC) It was common among the Ayar people who lived in the Mullai  geographical division of the ancient Tamil country. Later, it became a platform for display of bravery and prize money was introduced for participation encouragement. A seal from the Indus Valley Civilization depicting the practice is preserved in the National Musuem,New Delhi. A cave painting in white Kaolin discovered near Madurai depicting a lone man trying to control a bull is estimated to be about 1,500 years old.

As there were incidents of injury and death associated with the sport, both to the participants and to the animals forced into it, animal rights organizations have called for a ban to the sport, resulting in the court banning it several times over the past years. However, with protest from the people against the ban, a new ordinance was made in 2017 to continue the sport.India’s southern state Tamil Nadu annually holds a spectacle of bull taming, which is a key part of the harvest festival. The earliest evidence of this event has been featured in ancient Indian cave paintings and iconography. During Jallikattu, a Zebo (Bos indicus bull) is released into a crowd of men who are trying to stop and take the beast. Bos indicus bulls are usually bred specially for the event.

This event is associated with strength and courage and honours the bull owners. However, it is undoubtedly cruel to animals. In 2014 Jallikattu was banned by the Indian Supreme Court.

But it was such an important authentic tradition and inalienable part of rural society’s culture that thousands protested against the ban. After several years of continuous protests, in 2017 the Governor of Tamil Nadu issued an order authorising the continuation of Jallikattu. This decision was naturally disapproved by animal rights groups and many local activists.