Context: Tamil Nadu’s first Jallikattu of 2025 was held at Thatchankurichi village, Pudukottai district, marking the beginning of the bull-taming season in the state ahead of Pongal festivities. Twenty people were injured at the end of the event.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Jallikattu.
About Jallikattu
- Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport from Tamil Nadu, also known with the other names like Sallikkattu, Eru Taḻuvuṭal and Manju-virattu.
- In this event, a zebu bull such as the Pulikulam or Kangayam breeds, is released into a crowd of people (not teams), and many people attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. They hold the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. In some cases, they must ride long enough to remove flags on the bull's horns.
- Etymology: Term or sallikattu is derived from salli ('coins') and kattu ('package'), which refers to a prize of coins that is tied to the bull's horns and that participants attempt to retrieve.
- Location: Tamil Nadu
- Duration of the year: January (during Pongal)
History of the Event
- Inception: around 6th-1st century BCE (Sangam period)
- It began during the Sangam period when Ayar tribal people living in Mullai region (dense forest) of Tamil Nadu started playing this sport.
- A cave painting in white kaolin was discovered near Madurai, depicting a lone man trying to control a bull, is estimated to be about 1,500 years old.
- Legal backing: In May 2023: A five judge Constitution Bench dismissed petitions challenging constitutionality of Jallikattu and upheld the validity Tamil Nadu laws protecting the sport.