The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Salem defiant on jallikattu

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Monday, Jan 14, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Salem defiant on jallikattu

R. Ilangovan

SALEM: Dismay and anxiety engulfed Thammampatti and a cluster of 50 villages in Salem district following the Supreme Court banning jallikattu (taming of bulls) just before the Pongal festival.

Salem is a major district to host this sport in its villages outside southern districts in Tamil Nadu. The bulls and owners will stay put for nearly a month here to take part in a series of jallikattu events, scheduled to begin from ‘kari naal,’ January 17.

Thammampatti will play host to the event on Republic Day. More than 300 bulls from the southern districts and Tiruchi and Perambalur are expected to take part after the events in Alanganallur and Palamedu in Madurai district. Close to a lakh people will witness the event to be held on the Nadu Veethi, the main thoroughfare of Thammampatti town.

A 20 year old was gored to death last year.

R. Chellamuthu, Salem district president of Veera Vilayattu Kuzhu, which has been mobilising support for the sport, says that the event at Thammampatti and in other dozen villages, will be held as scheduled. It is a traditional sport that is intertwined with the cultural ethos of Tamils. Endorsing his views, the owners claim that they have reared the bulls with special care for which they had to spend heavy sums of money. “The money we earn from these annual events alone help us meet the exorbitant expenses.”

Organisers are also embarrassed. As the sport is associated with annual temple festivals, they fear that the ban would invite the wrath of villagers leading to serious law and order situation. They claim they have announced costly prizes to the tamers and paid hefty sums as advances to the owners.

Wherever these events are being organised, petty traders and street performers descend in droves to make quick money.

They pay a good chunk of money as “tax to the local panchayats, which conduct the annual jallikattu.”

A senior police official, however, says that no step will be spared to ensure the implementation of the ban in the district.

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