Photos: Bull taming sport 'Jallikattu' gets underway in Tamil Nadu

'Jallikattu', a centuries-old sport is celebrated in mid January, during Pongal

Published: January 16, 2021 11:17 Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor and with inputs from agencies

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Tamers attempt to get on to the hump of a bull as part of the traditional 'Jallikattu' festival, in Madurai district, Friday, Jan.15, 2021. The bull owners are given prizes if their animals outmanouvered the waiting men and the participants are rewarded if they managed to hang from the hump of the bulls for a while. Image Credit: PTI

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Participants try to control a bull during "Jallikattu" in the village of Avaniyapuram. A total of 800 bulls and 615 bull tamers will be participating in the traditional sport of Tamil Nadu played during the harvest festival Pongal. Image Credit: AFP

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As per COVID-19 rules, the number of players in an event should not exceed more than 150 and they need to have COVID-19 negative certificates to participate in the event. Image Credit: AFP

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The bull tamers will be allowed into the arena in batches. Image Credit: REUTERS

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In 2014, Supreme Court had banned Jallikattu after People for Ethical Treatment of Animals filed a plea but it was lifted in 2017 after protests from the people of Tamil Nadu, claiming the event is a crucial part of their culture. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Villagers try to tame a bull during "Jallikattu," in the village of Palamedu, near Madurai. Image Credit: AP

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Jallikattu, a centuries-old sport is celebrated in mid January, during Pongal. Pongal is a four-day harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God. Image Credit: AFP

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A bull charges at participants during "Jallikattu" in the village of Avaniyapuram. Prizes for the bull tamers - for holding on to the hump of the bull for a specified time - and for the owners of the bulls that overcame the hold of the bull tamers are distributed after the event. Image Credit: AFP

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The prizes ranged from gold coins, plastic chairs, utensils, cash and other items. Image Credit: AFP

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Also, the best bull tamer and the best bull owner will be given a car as a prize. Image Credit: PTI

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Villagers gather around a bull on the outskirts of Madurai town. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A bull charges participants in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai. Image Credit: AFP

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A bull charges at participants in the village of Avaniyapuram. Image Credit: AFP

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A participant tries to tame a bull in the village of Avaniyapuram. Image Credit: PTI

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Participants try to control a bull in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai. Image Credit: AFP

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Participants try to tame a bull in the village of Palamedu, near Madurai. Image Credit: AP

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Villagers try to control a bull on the outskirts of Madurai town. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Participants line-up with their bulls in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai. Image Credit: AFP

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Villagers try to control a bull on the outskirts of Madurai town. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Participants try to tame a bull in the village of Palamedu, near Madurai. Image Credit: AP

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Participants try to control a bull in the village of Avaniyapuram. Image Credit: AFP

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Photos: Bull taming sport 'Jallikattu' gets underway in Tamil Nadu

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