1. Introduction:
‘Bull fight’ – ‘Spain’ is the first word that comes to people’s minds. Similar to this sport in Spain, there’s a fight that happens in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is known as ‘Jallikattu’. It is also known as ‘Manjuvirattu’ or ‘Eru thazhuvudhal’ in Tamil. The name is derived from two Tamil words, ‘Salli’ [coins] and ‘Kattu’ [package], which means: a prize bag consisting of coins will be tied under the bull’s neck. In the initial days of the sport, the main aim was to take the prize bag. Later, after bans and protests, the practice of tying the coins under the neck was abolished. Hence, it was called Sallikattu, which later transformed into Jallikattu. In this sport, breeds of bulls such as ‘Kangayem’ or ‘Pulikulam’ are made to run into the crowd through the gate called ‘Vadivasal’. People who are gathered near the Vadivasal aim to tackle the bull. Jallikattu is known to be the sport of bravery. It displays the courage of both humans and animals.
2. History:
Jallikattu has a huge cultural significance. It saw its birth in the very early days around 2700 BCE. This sport is performed as a part of Pongal, which is the traditional harvesting festival of Tamil Nadu. It is the festival meant to honor the farmers and to thank the Sun God for good food production throughout the year. The second and third days of the Pongal festival have this sport. This sport is played at different locations all over Tamil Nadu. From the beginning, the aim of the Tamil community was never to hurt the bulls. But some players started cheating and causing trouble to the animals by hurting them with sharp objects to obtain the prize money, which caused a stir among animal activists. This resulted in a ban on the sport. But it was revived again with more clearly stated rules.
2.1. The origin:
It is noted that the Epic of Gilgamesh (2700 BCE) had the first information on bull-taming in the world. While this bull fighting started in the region of Mesopotamia, Jallikattu originated in India around the same time. This sport had already been in practice around 2600 BCE. The time of its origin is confirmed using the seal found at Mohenjo-Daro. The main aim of the game was never to hurt anyone, only to have mutual respect and understanding between humans and animals.
The sport grew in several regions of Tamil Nadu after 2600 BCE. The sport was highly practiced among the ‘Ayar’ community who lived in the ‘Mullai’ region of Tamil Nadu. It was highly played around the districts of Madurai, Thanjavur, Trichy, and Ramanathapuram from the early days. A cave painting found near Madurai confirms the presence and importance of the sport around Madurai for the time span of 400–100 BCE.
2.2. The ban:
The practice of this sport continued without any controversies till the 20th century. The Animal Welfare Board of India filed a case in the Supreme Court of India to ban this game in the early years of the 21st century. Later, in the year 2010, the court ordered to practice this game only for 5 months in a year, to have an Animal Board representative to watch the game wherever it happens, and ordered District Collectors to closely monitor this sport. But the issue didn’t stop there. The court stated that this sport is cruel, and making the animals participate in such events causes pain and suffering to them. Therefore, the court issued a complete ban on this sport on May 7th, 2014.
The government of Tamil Nadu tried very hard to preserve this traditional sport. The fight lasted for 2 years. On January 14, 2016, the court still stayed in its order. On January 16, 2016, on the famous beach of Marina, the World Youth Organization (WYO) protested the court’s order. On January 16, 2017, thousands of youths gathered on Marina against this ban. This was one of the events where the whole of Tamil Nadu and its youth united to showcase their tradition. Students started rallying all over the state. The protest in Chennai gained international support. The ultimate goal was to revive the traditional game.
2.3. Revival:
Due to heavy protests all over the state, the Governor of Tamil Nadu issued a new ordinance on January 21, 2017, which allowed the continuation of this sport. On January 23, 2017, the Tamil Nadu legislature passed a bill with the accession of the PM, exempting the sport from the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960). With the removal of the ban and new rules framed by the Government of Tamil Nadu, the first legal Jallikattu after the ban took place on February 1st in Alanganallur of Madurai. This sport is mainly played by men. Even though it is stated that women can participate, there is no much involvement of women in this sport.
3. A Game of Bravery:
Individuals can watch these games live in the stadium-like structure, or they can view the live broadcast of the games on television. The three places in Tamil Nadu are famous for Jallikattu. They are,
- Alanganallur – Madurai
- Avaniapuram – Madurai
- Palamedu – Madurai
In ancient times, ‘Nadukal’ [Hero-stones] were placed to remember them for their portrayed bravery. For playing this sport, both humans and animals undergo rigorous training months in advance. Humans prepare themselves days before the game by training with the bulls they own. They also play Kabaddi as a warm-up sport. In the case of the bull, they are trained to run fast and to escape if any human catches them. They are also fed with a protein-rich diet and are usually trained to run fast in open fields. Many owners conduct special rituals and prayers for the well-being of animals before the competition.
Jallikattu is seen as a sport of strength, agility, and quick thinking. The players are considered winners if they hold the hump of the bull for a specific distance or for a specific duration. In the case of bulls, they must use their instincts to shake humans from their bodies and must run away from them. The players are awarded with cash or things if they win; the owners of the bulls are awarded if the bulls win. This sport creates a bond between humans and animals and portrays the bravery of both.
4. Current-day Scenario:
This sport is a tradition of Tamil Nadu. After the protest in Chennai, many people became interested in this sport. Now, Jallikattu acts as a cultural ambassador of Tamil Nadu. Many movies, such as ‘Murattu Kalai’ (1980), ‘Mann Vasanai’ (1983), and ‘Meiyazhagan’ (2024), featured this sport. In today’s scenario, Jallikattu has become more organized with strict rules and safety measures.
Medical teams and veterinary doctors are always available on the spot for emergency assistance. Safety barricades are arranged between the players and watchers. Registrations, along with ID checks and bull health certificates, are mandatory. Because of the protests, people understood the roles of these bulls in agriculture and maintaining ecological balance. Tourists and cultural enthusiasts from many countries attend these events nowadays. Researchers even publish articles on this sport. The sport has gained worldwide recognition.
5. Conclusion:
Apart from just a sport, it depicts the bond of bravery between humans and animals. It symbolizes courage and valor. It shows that mutual respect between humans and animals (bulls) can become a part of culture. It teaches discipline and trust. It also helps in protecting certain breeds of bulls. Jallikattu is not just a game for many families. It is a sport that connects generations. Safeguarding this sport is equal to safeguarding Tamil heritage. If played with proper rules, Jallikattu will continue to flourish as a game of bravery, culture, and the timeless bonds shared by humans and bulls.
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jallikattu
- https://www.sahapedia.org/past-and-present-jallikattu-overview-0
- https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/explained-jallikattu-cultural-practice-or-cruelty/article66339526.ece
- https://ssrpublisher.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SSRJEBM-SI04-2025.pdf
- https://iasaarthi.com/crispy-mains/current-affairs/jallikattu/