Chennai, Jan 15 (UNI) The traditional Jallikattu event, taming of bulls,
asociated with the annual Pongal festivites in southern Tamil Nadu
began at Avuniapuram in Madurai distridt on Thursday.
The event would be held at Palamedu in Madurai and Suriyur village in
Trichy district of Tamil Nadu tomorrow and at the world famous Alanganallur
which Chief Minister M K Stalin will inaugurate on January 17.
Thousands of tourists from across the country and abroad would be
present at the Alanganallur event.
During the event bulls will be released from Vaadivasal in which hundreds
of bull tamers will take part., to carry home various prizes, ranging from
gold rings, chain, cards, two-wheelers and stainless steel utensils after
which the best bull tamer and the best bull would be awarded prizes.
As the bulls were released from the vaadivasal into the open arena,
enthusiastic tamers flexed their muscles to win over the animals after
Tamil Nadu Minister P. Moorthy flagged off the events in the presence
of the Madurai Dsitrict Collector who administered the traditional pledge
for the fair conduct of the event at Avuniapuram to be followed by Palamedu
and Alanganallur.
The Minister will also handed over the prizes to the winners.
From time immemorial, the traditional rural sport of Jallikattu (taming of
bulls), which attracts thousands of people from different parts of the
country and also from abroad, is synonymous with the four-day long
Festival of harvest– Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
No Pongal Festivities are complete without Jallikattu, being held in
southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
For this sport of bravery, a specific breed of cattle is reared and the
youths display their courage by taming it.
Every year Alanganallur, Avinayapuram and Palemedu panchayat
towns would be tastefully decked up for the annual sport, which
symbolises the heroism, valour and courage of the youth.
Jallikattu bulls are not used for any agricultural purposes. They are
mostly kept as a family tradition or as a status symbol by the owners.
The Jalikattu event has considerable historical significance and is
ingrained as part of the cultural tradition of Tamil Nadu as a sport
which 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 families
donating bulls to temples in fulfilment of vows.
UNI GV 0650
Three day Jallikattu bull taming fest begins in TN as part of Pongal fest
