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

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.

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.

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.

The bull tamers will be allowed into the arena in batches.

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.

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

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

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.

The prizes ranged from gold coins, plastic chairs, utensils, cash and other items.

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

Villagers gather around a bull on the outskirts of Madurai town.

A bull charges participants in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai.

A bull charges at participants in the village of Avaniyapuram.

A participant tries to tame a bull in the village of Avaniyapuram.

Participants try to control a bull in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai.

Participants try to tame a bull in the village of Palamedu, near Madurai.

Villagers try to control a bull on the outskirts of Madurai town.

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

Villagers try to control a bull on the outskirts of Madurai town.

Participants try to tame a bull in the village of Palamedu, near Madurai.

Participants try to control a bull in the village of Avaniyapuram.