Culture & sports: Jallikattu ends in Tamil Nadu after a grand four-day show

Jallikattu is usually organised for four days in parts of interior Tamil Nadu, including Madurai, Pudukottai and Trichy. (PTI)

Jallikattu is usually organised for four days in parts of interior Tamil Nadu, including Madurai, Pudukottai and Trichy. While the event in Madurai is the one people often look forward too, the other districts too conduct the event in a grand manner. This year the events started on January 14 and ended on January 17. In Madurai, the sport was organised in Aviniyapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur.

This year, the sporting ground that was filled with sand, coir and hay to ensure safety, had close to 5000 people as spectators, including a few foreign tourists. As many as 825 bulls and 303 tamers took part in the game which began by 7.30 am and went on till 5.10 am.

Tamil Nadu sports minister Udhayanidhi Stalin flagging off the event at Alanganallur, Madurai. (PTI)

Poovanthi Abi Sithar of Sivaganga district won the first prize by dominating 26 bulls. He was given a brand new car on behalf of Chief Minister M K Stalin. He was also given a milch cow. Similarly, the star bull that dodged bull tamers altogether won the first prize of a car and a cow for its owner from Pudukkottai — Kaikkurichi Tamilselvan.

During the Alanganallur Jallikattu, close to 53 men were injured, including spectators. The event was flagged off by Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin Tuesday morning.

During the Alanganallur Jallikattu, close to 53 men were injured, including spectators. (PTI)

Jallikattu in Palamedu

On day two of the Pongal festivities Jallikattu in Palamedu kicked off with huge enthusiasm and fervour. The Palamedu jallikattu is the second high-profile competition in the district.

Nearly, 860 bulls were released from the Vadivasal at Palamedu where 335 tamers participated Wednesday.

Nearly, 860 bulls were released from the Vadivasal at Palamedu where 335 tamers participated today. (PTI)

A participant Arvind raj was gored to death by a bull during the game. Meanwhile in Pudukottai’s Jallikattu, a spectator was gored to death. CM Stalin announced a solatium of Rs 3 lakh to the families of the deceased and expressed his condolences.

At least 34 people sustained injuries at the event held at Palamedu.

Aviniyapuram Jallikattu

The first event of the 2023 Pongal season was held at Avaniyapuram on Sunday coinciding with first day of the harvest festival — Thai Pongal. The event left about 75 people injured. Nearly 20 among them were provided with advanced trauma care and life support, according to PTI.

This year, the sporting ground that was filled with sand, coir and hay to ensure safety, had close to 5000 people as spectators, including a few foreign tourists. (PTI)

As many as 737 bulls were released at the Avaniyapuram bull, taming event which saw the participation of 257 bull tamers who had provided RT-PCR negative reports and also a certificate that they were fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

State Commercial Taxes Minister P Moorthy flagged off the Jallikattu in the presence of Madurai district collector S Aneesh Sekhar.

Tamilarasan of Chinnapatti, who tamed 23 bulls, was adjudged the best tamer and was presented the first prize of the chief minister’s car. Mani of Palamedu, who tamed 19 bulls, won the second prize – a two-wheeler.

The owner of the best bull that evaded all the tamers was given a car as prize while the owner of the second winner took home a cow.

Other sporting events in Tamil Nadu

Apart from Jallikattu, like every year, this year, too, Tamil Nadu witnessed Reckla race, horse cart race and Manjivirattu.

pic.twitter.com/DKqoP2ARcU

— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) January 17, 2023

While the Reckla race in Sivaganga and horse cart race in Managiri were flagged off by Karti Chidambaram, the sporting events happened smoothly with no major injuries or deaths. However, during the Manjivirattu event in Pudukottai, two men died after the a ferocious bull attacked them.

இன்று மானகிரியில் குதிரை வண்டி பந்தயத்தை சிவகங்கை நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் திரு கார்த்தி ப சிதம்பரம் அவர்கள் துவக்கி வைத்த போது @KartiPC pic.twitter.com/SQ8LslMs3H

— MP Karthi (@mp_karthi1) January 17, 2023

Unlike Jallikattu, Manjivirattu is a game where the players chase bulls in the sporting arena. Often, gifts are tied to the bull.