Category: Sports

Jallikattu

Protests all over the world to lift ban on Jallikattu continue for the fourth day.

Protestors are overworked fighting for Jallikattu to resume.

Jallikattu is a traditional sport, of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh states of India, in which a bull is released into a crowd of people. Multiple human participants attempt to grab and tightly hug the large hump of the bull and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. Participants hug the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. In some cases, participants must ride long enough to remove flags affixed to the bull’s horns.

Jallikattu has been known to be practiced during the Tamil classical period (400-100 BC). It was common among the ancient people, Aayars, who lived in the Mullai geographical division of the ancient Tamil country. Later, it became a platform for display of bravery and prize money was introduced for encouraging the participants. A seal from the Indus Valley Civilization depicting the practice is preserved in the National Museum, New Delhi. A cave painting in white kaolin discovered near Madurai depicting a lone man trying to control a bull is estimated to be about 2,500 years old.

Bos indicus bulls are bred specifically by people of the village for the event. Bulls that are able to participate successfully in the Jallikattu event are used as studs for breeding.

Other events during the Pongal festival (the harvest festival) in Tamil Nadu are Rekla Race, Cock Fight, et al.

Long live the culture of the Dravidians!

Bullyboy