Jallikattu ( Bull taming)

Jallikattu Tamil Nadu celebrates a four day harvesting festival annually during the month of January, popularly known as “Pongal”. The celebration is held to praise the Sun God for nourishing the crops throughout the year. The four day celebration involves; Bhogi, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal.  The third day of the festival is Mattu Pongal, which features a significant ancient sport known as Jallikattu - the bull taming sport.About Jallikattu Jallikattu has various names, including Manju Virattu, Sallikattu, and Yeru Thazhuvudhal.   In ancient times, ‘Yeru thazhuvuthal’ or embracing the bull, was connected in displaying the men’s pride and victory for winning over a girl for marriage. The sport has prevailed in Tamil culture for over 2000 years now.   Manju Virattu is conducted every year in various regions of the state including Madurai, Sivagangai and Pudukottai. The event begins as the bulls are released to the arena via a small entrance known as “ Vaadi Vaasal”. The male players known to be bull tamers, amid loud whistles, applauses and cheers wait nearby to the entrance and try to grab the bull's hump, which needs a lot of courage and prudence. The person who clutches the hump and takes the pouch containing cash or presents without falling off the bull is deemed the winner. Besides being identified as a conquering sport, it is also associated with the good motive of preserving pure-breeding of native bulls which were bred exclusively for the purpose of mating. The native Kangayam, Pulikulam, Umbalachery , Bargur and Malai Maadu are the combative breeds which compete highly in this sport. The sport has become the emotion of Tamilians with its long rooted historical and cultural significance.Madurai and Jallikattu The festival of cattle-worship is much delighted in Madurai and its sub regions. The sport is considered as a celebration in these areas. Preparations for this festival start months before the day of the event. The invites are sent to various villages about the celebration where the bulls are registered to enter the arena after a physical health check up. The district administration, Public works department, Police department along with local event organizers work together to maintain the integrity and dignity of the sport.   Every year the regions of Avaniyapuram, Alanganallur and Palamedu attract around 700 native breeds of bulls and about 300 bull tamers from all around the state for this competition. The event also attracts a swarm of people, both locally and globally, visiting these areas to watch this magnificent sport. The bull taming sport in these regions are also telecasted on National Television every year. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has also announced plans to construct an international sports arena in Madurai to organise ancient sports of Tamil culture every year.