Massive turnout at Palamedu jallikattu

Madurai: Even as thousands witnessed the jallikattu at Palamedu near here on Monday which was a grand success, about 25 people were injured during the event, five of whom have been admitted at the Government Rajaji Hospital for treatment.

The event started with six village temple bulls entering the arena around 8 am marking the being of the event after the collector Veera Raghava Rao administered oath to the tamers to protect bulls.

The Revenue Minister R B Udayakumar and Madurai SP, Manivannan were present at the occasion.

The people who eagerly waited at various vantage points- house rooftops, terraces, tractors, street walls- on the either side of the sprawling ground (Manjamali river) raised voice in unison when the first bull was released in arena. However, the tamers unable to tame around six bulls and when they the managed to tame the first bull, the spectators shrieked in appreciation.

A bull-owner bet a lamp as prize for the tamers, but they could not tame his bull which emerged victorious. The bull tamers and owners received prizes ranging from gold and silver coins, a bike, bicycles, household items and bureaus in the event.

The district administration identified Mani from Palamedu as the best bull tamer, Murugan secured the second place, while Vilvi, Sakthivelu and Sivaraj secured the third place. The collector gave them certificates. The district administration also distributed certificates for best seven bulls, which includes bulls owned by Mr Rajasekaran, president of the Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Peravai and Mr Senthil Thondaiman from Pudukkottai.

Though 1,080 bulls were registered for the event, only 446 bulls were allowed to participate after authorities screened 529.  About 700 bull-tamers participated in the event, which was wound up by 3-30 pm.

S M Mittal, who heads the 'Jallikattu monitoring committee' appointed by AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India) team, sat through the entire event at Palamedu.
Traditional sports like jallikattu need to be organised continuously to preserve the indigenous bulls, he said, adding, at the same time, both the bull tamers and bull-owners should ensure the safety of the bulls that took part in 'jallikattu' events.
In a rare bonhomie, the DMK Madurai North MLA P Moorthy who came to watch the event, was seen chatting freely with the AIADMK minister Mr. Udayakumar.