14 hurt in Avaniyapuram jallikattu

Madurai: Watched by an unprecedented crowd of more than 20,000 spectators who had gathered from various parts of Tamil Nadu, the Avaniyapuram jallikattu started on Sunday with the district collector Veera Raghava Rao administrating the oath to 717 bull tamers who vowed to protect the bulls.

The Revenue Minister, RP Udayakumar, in his address to the tamers, said that the event was organised only because of ‘the government of J. Jayalalithaa is in power’.

Around 4,000 spectators stayed overnight on the either side of the barricade erected around 150 metres alongside the arena to witness the first act of the bullfight.

Fourteen bull tamers who suffered blood injuries were treated at the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, Collector Rao said.

The 7-hour event was organised from 8.15 am, but 45 people — mostly bull tamers and a few spectators — sustained minor injuries in the sport. Fourteen bull tamers who suffered blood injuries were treated at the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, Collector Rao said, adding that a bull which sustained minor injury in a leg was treated by veterinarians in the dispensary.

The spectacle begins with four village bulls marched from Manthai Amman temple via the Ambedkar statue and enter the arena from the front side with the bull tamers and people welcoming it amid fanfare even as folk music filled the space. Some bull tamers knelt down at the feet of the bulls seeking their blessings to win prizes in the sport.   Following the tradition, the four village bulls belonging to different communities passed through Vadivasal (the entry point of bulls into the arena) first and were not tackled by the bull tamers.

Jubilation filled the arena within a few seconds when a brave youth tamed the first sporting bull released from the Vadivasal, which according to the tamers was a good omen for winning more prizes in the event.

This was followed by authorities releasing 326 bulls of four native breeds (Kangeyam, Puli kulam, Kizhakyhi and Sindu ) into the arena. The bull fighters tamed around 140 bulls winning silver coins, silk saris, mobile phones, bureaus, gear cycles and household items. Around 186 talented bulls, which proved too speedy for bullfighters, crossed the 100-metres line within a fraction of second bringing victory to its owners.