Come mid January and the whole of India basks in the colorful aura of
festivity surrounding the harvest and Indian version of thanksgiving festival. The sun’s transit from Tropic of cancer to tropic of Capricorn
is celebrated under different names with
differing customs and traditions across different communities of India,
predominantly the farming community.
There is one region which along with
celebrating the harvest festival braces itself to receive cultural tourists for
an unique pongal related sport called Jallikattu. Jallikattu, a 2000 year old bull wrestling festival held in the southern region of Tamilnadu around Madurai districts attracts tourists from India and abroad.
Image courtesy: Google
A sea of people bubble up to watch the electrifying event. There are commentators who give commentary punctuating the already charged atmosphere with tension and goad the men to run for the money.
Although similar to the bull fights of Spain , this is older and there is one big difference. Unlike the Spanish fights, the bull is not killed here. Thus making it one of a kind in the world.
Only daring men take part in this game. The villagers see it as a sport to display their macho power, there is a huge drawback though. This is believed to be a dangerous sport in that there are many casualties sometimes the men are fatally gored, and the raging bull runs amok killing spectators. The supreme court had banned jallikattu a few years back but revoked the ban owing to its popularity but subject to some rules and regulations. The bulls are subject to a round of screening. Police and medical help with ambulances are all around.
For those of them, who fancy to make their travel experience a little out of ordinary, this spectacle can provoke various feelings ranging from excitement, thrill, shock and anger. But the show goes on every year.
Here's wishing you all a happy Lohri, Pongal, Sankranti, Uttarayan, bihu or whatever be the name:)
Happy Pongal Asha.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed Jallikattu is an old tradition in and around Madurai. I have a thought. A certain politician is claiming Madurai as his personal fiefdom. Why not insist that tame a bull in Jallikattu and only then should he open his mouth that he is the owner of Madurai :):)
yes, he must have thought madurai is his family property and he can inherit:)
DeleteAsha ,I have seen on TV the bull fighting festival of Mudurai.. It is frightening.Wish you a very happy Pongal.
ReplyDeletetrue, it is frightening.
DeleteHappy Pongal. I think matador and torero is a copy of jallikattu.
ReplyDeletepossible. but they seem more popular at a global level.
DeleteHappy Pongal
ReplyDeleteand I have passed through the village where Jallikattu is very famous in TN . But many get injured and die during this sport.:(
yes, it happens around many villages around madurai and trichy too.
DeleteJallikattu... have read about it! Though it is so scary and dangerous, but people find it so thrilling and exciting! A very happy Pongal to you too :)
ReplyDeleteyes, some find it thrilling and exciting, while it is dangerous.
DeleteJallikattu;;just today i read that 110 persons were injured in this and bull owner died..I dont think any tradition or game is worth this..
ReplyDeleteHappy Pongal!
yes, every year it has casualties but the truth is it does attract cultural tourists especially foreign tourists.
Delete