In case you didn’t know…
The event involves bulls charging into a circular arena and the participants try to grab the hump of the animal and hold on to it. The one who is successful in clinging on to the animal or taming it is declared the winner.
The heart of the matter
In 2014, the Supreme Court banned Jallikattu amidst immense pressure from the public. However, the ban was rescinded by the Bharatiya Janta Party after pressure from some local groups and political parties.
Again in 2017, lakhs of Tamil Nadu residents, college going students and leaders of youth political parties protested against the event, but the government has decided to give it a go for yet another year. But, the Madurai district administration has been asked to look over the proceedings.
The MDA is expecting a crowd of more than 50,000 to witness the three-day event and have registered 1000 bulls and 1000 participants. The timings on all three days have been limited from 8 am to 3 pm.
What’s next?
According to reports, some of the villages that will host the event include Avaniyapuram on 14th January, Suriyur and Palamedu on 15th and in Allangunur and Aavarangaadu on the last day.
The authorities will also verify that the bulls are not alcohol or drug-influenced before allowing them to go into the event.
Author’s take
Jallikattu is a dangerous event and the authorities will have to be careful in organizing the proceedings. The hosting of the successful event lies in the hands of the people of the villages, who should coordinate with the authorities.
A ban on a cultural event will never go down well with the locals, but limiting the damage while organizing such events is important.
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