Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival, is celebrated with great energy in districts like Madurai, Pudukottai, Tiruchirapalli, and Tanjavur. These places are known for Jallikattu festival, an ancient bull-taming sport that is nearly 2000 years old. In earlier times, the event was also used to choose the most suitable groom for marriage.

Jallikattu festival Tamilnadu banned

In Tamil Nadu, jallikattu is once again permitted. A 2017 state statute permitting the bull-taming sport was affirmed by the Supreme Court in May 2023, citing the activity’s cultural significance and updated animal protection regulations. Jalli kattu was previously outlawed by the court in 2014 due to concerns about animal cruelty, but it was reinstated as a result of protests and legislative amendments.

These animals were raped in the name of Jalli kattu game

A seal showing the sport has been discovered at the Indus Valley Civilisation site and is now kept in the National Museum, New Delhi. . A 1500-year-old white kaolin cave painting has also been discovered in Tamil Nadu, close to Madurai. Legend has it that Lord Shiva once punished his bull, Basava, for teaching humans how to plough their field, causing confusion.

Today, the festival is also linked to cultural tourism in Tamil Nadu. There are different types of the sport, such as Vadi manjuviraṭṭu, Vēli viraṭṭu, and Vaṭam manjuviraṭṭu, each with its own rules. Some require players to retain the bull’s hump for 30 seconds, while others want them to do so for 15 meters.

In 2018, Tamil Nadu Jalli kattu Peravai and Chennai Jalli kattu Amaippu founded the Jalli kattu Premier League to organize and promote the sport.

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