Two Including Minor Killed During Jallikattu Event In Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga District

Two people, including a boy, were gored to death by bulls at a Jallikattu (bull-taming) event at Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga district on Wednesday. This incident took place during a bull-taming event at the Madurai District Collectorate (DC) on Thursday (January 10), led by State Minister Moorthy.

The victims were not active participants but spectators who had visited the venue. As reported by NDTV, the bulls collided with the spectators, resulting in severe and ultimately fatal injuries.

This contentious bull-taming activity, integral to Tamil Nadu's cultural practices during the Pongal festival, has been a focal point in numerous legal disputes and discussions. Despite the controversies, it remains a widely practiced sport in the state, where the victor is determined by the duration a tamer manages to hold on to the hump of the bull.

Meanwhile, at the renowned Jallikattu event in Palamedu, Madurai, 42 individuals, including 14 bull tamers and three policemen, sustained injuries as part of the ongoing Pongal festivities. Nine of the injured were admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital for multiple injuries.

As per information provided, a total of 2,400 bulls and 1,318 tamers have been registered for Avaniapuram Jallikattu, 3,677 bulls and 1,412 tamers for Palamedu Jallikattu, and 6,099 bulls and 1,784 tamers for the Alanganallur event.

Notably, Sri Lanka recently hosted its inaugural Jallikattu event in Trincomalee, with the Eastern Province Governor Senthil Thondaman and Malaysian Member of Parliament Saravanan Murugan inaugurating the event on January 6. Jallikattu, a traditional bull-embracing sport, is popularly played in Tamil Nadu during the Pongal harvest festival in the second week of January.

In 2014, the Supreme Court imposed a ban on Jallikattu, but in 2017, the Tamil Nadu government passed an ordinance to permit the event, introducing regulations to ensure the safety of participants and bulls. Following strong protests against the ban, the Supreme Court of India upheld the Tamil Nadu government's law allowing Jallikattu in May 2023. A five-judge Constitution bench heard petitions challenging laws in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra allowing Jallikattu and bullock cart races. The Tamil Nadu government defended the event, asserting its cultural significance, and argued there was no cruelty involved in Jallikattu competitions.