Tamil Nadu: 11 injured in jallikattu celebrations in Palamedu as hundreds participate in bull taming sport
Gaiety and valour marked the conduct of jallikattu on Monday at nearby Palamedu, famous for the bull taming sport, which left 11 competitors injured
Madurai: Gaiety and valour marked the conduct of jallikattu on Monday at nearby Palamedu, famous for the bull taming sport, which left 11 competitors injured, police said.
Representational image. AFP
Tamil Nadu revenue minister RB Udhayakumar inaugurated the grand event that saw participation of around 1,000 bulls and hundreds of sportsmen who vied for the honours.
A large number of spectators also thronged Palamedu, one of the famous venues for jallikattu in the district along with Alanganallur and Avaniapuram, and cheered competitors.
Related Articles
Attractive prizes, including gold coins, were given away to the winners who tamed the bulls.
Similarly, the bulls which ducked the sportsmen and remained unconquered were also honoured with their owners getting prizes.
Tight security arrangements had been made with deployment of 1,200 police personnel, police said.
The sport was held in the presence of the members from the Animal Welfare Board of India and other officials.
The 11 injured sportsmen were immediately treated at the medical camp put up at the venue and sent home.
The sport synonymous with Pongal festivities in this region returned in its full traditional gaiety during the festive period after a gap of three seasons.
Jallikattu remained banned following a Supreme Court order in May 2014 before the state government in 2017 brought an ordinance to facilitate its conduct at the height of a massive protest held at Marina Beach in Chennai and several places across the state.
Accordingly, jallikattu was held in some places during the third week of January and in the first week of February elsewhere, including Palamedu, in 2017.
also read
Animal welfare board VC Chinny Krishna is 'delighted' SC stayed ban on Jallikattu, refuses to resign from office
In May 2014, the Supreme Court had passed final orders on the issue of Jallikattu banning the sport. In its order, the court had meticulously gone into the issue of culture and tradition, ruling that the sport was inherently cruel in nature and that culture or tradition could not be a reason to allow practices which unnecessarily inflict cruelty on animals for human pleasure.
Jallikattu can't be justified as tradition: SC sets date for hearing on 30 Aug
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that just because the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu is a centuries-old tradition, it can't be justified.
Jallikattu: Massive protests against arrests in Tamil Nadu
Hundreds of people in Tamil Nadu took to the streets on Tuesday against the arrest of those who protested in favour of Jallikattu.