SC bans Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu (now vacated conditionally)

[dadu]

Friday, January 11, 2008 11:27 [IST]

New Delhi: Augmenting its voice for animal protection, the Supreme Court today banned the Jallikattu, a bull taming game popular in Tamil Nadu. Jallikattu is an annual event popular in rural Madurai and dates back to 3rd century.

While demanding a ban on sport, animal activists claimed that the sport is cruel and several people were killed in the sport. Giving an example, last year one person was killed while several others were injured in Jallikattu.

Jallikattu is a wild bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebration.

Although it sounds similar to the Spanish running of the bulls, it is quite different. In Jallikattu, the bull is not killed and the 'matadors' are not supposed to use any weapon. It is held in the villages of Tamil Nadu on the eve of Mattu Pongal, one of the four days of Pongal festival (usually January 15 on the Western calendar).

The one held in Alanganallur, near Madurai, is the most popular. This sport is also known as "Manju Virattu", meaning "chasing the bull".

In Jallikattu, an agitated bull is set to run in an open space. Several people, empty handed, try to tame it by controlling its horns. The winner gets a prize, which is generally tied to the horns of the bull. Only men take part in this macho game.

Sometimes, more than one bull is loose at the same time. The village farmers take this game as a display of their masculine strength. Betting is also common during the game.

Source/s: A B

[sreenivass]

There is a surprise here, If the animal (bull) is not in danger in this game why are animal activists complaining

[srishiva]

There is pushing/pulling, scaring and injuring the animal.

[maddy42]

Rather than trying to ban this where there is no trouble why dont they get the SC to get strict on poaching. That would be better for the country and also put some effort to see that no animals kills humans!!!

[2theMax]

Thats sad .. One must see alanganallur to believe it,the atmosphere is electric and unbelievable with you sitting on a flimsy pandals (platform ) and watching the raging bulls charging towards you,and this certainly cannot be compared to spanish bull running which appears timid.

This was a major tourist attraction with loads of europeans visiting the event, and what a loss.

Anybody planning to get a 'STAY' for the order ?

[DCEite]

Originally Posted by 2theMax

the atmosphere is electric and unbelievable with you sitting on a flimsy pandals

Oh come on. If you want entertainment go watch a movie, or if you want thrill go do skydiving.
Using poor animals for this kind of sport is SICK.

[Mr.Bangalore]

Originally Posted by DCEite

Oh come on. If you want entertainment go watch a movie, or if you want thrill go do skydiving.
Using poor animals for this kind of sport is SICK.

try doing same thing you being in the position of the animal..

[2theMax]

Thanks for the advice pals , will try skydiving sson..next thing i need is some one going after me for leaving a carbon footprint while skydiving...LOL

for your information this sport is not as ruthless to animals as you think, these animals are pride of their owners ,and they are reigned specifically for this event, and these animals lead a better life than a stray dog/cattle on your motorway / highway ..

Anyway to each his opinion.. cheers

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by DCEite

Oh come on. If you want entertainment go watch a movie, or if you want thrill go do skydiving.
Using poor animals for this kind of sport is SICK.

So when're they going to ban using the bulls to plough the field in the hot sun?

And when're they going to ban the Pooram festival of kerala, Exposing the elephants to loud bursts of fireworks is torture, isn't it?

Why don't they ban keeping the animals inside cages in Zoos. This IS cruelty.

Why don't they ban using wild animals in circus?


Some age old traditions are best left untouched.

[Mpower]

Its done in a 1st world country like Spain, why not here. Culture needs to evolve not be killed like this.

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by Mpower

Its done in a 1st world country like Spain, why not here. Culture needs to evolve not be killed like this.

Only the bullfighting has been banned in some towns of Spain. Bull running has not been banned yet.

And moreover spanish bull running is a sport which evolved as a prequel to bullfighting. Where bulls are hearded to a pen to be taken to the bullfights and killed.

Here i don't see any relation between Jallikattu & a spanish bull fighting where a bull is killed.

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Jallikattu is a wild bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebration. Although it sounds similar to the Spanish running of the bulls, it is quite different. In Jallikattu, the bull is not killed and the 'matadors' are not supposed to use any weapon. It is held in the villages of Tamil Nadu on the eve of Mattu Pongal, one of the four days of Pongal festival (usually January 15 on the Western calendar). The one held in Alanganallur, near Madurai, is the most popular. This sport is also known as "Manju Virattu", meaning "chasing the bull".

Culture needs to be evolved. True. And only the Culture is being killed here not the Bull.
If the sport seems too cruel then what SC could do is to impose some restrictions. And not kill the tradition of an entire sect of people. And mattu pongal is an important festival for the people living in that state.

Why don't SC ban the bursting of crackers during festivals? It adds to the air pollution and noise pollution and the carcinogenic smoke which damages the health of the people. And it is highly dangerous to people who suffer from breathing problems. Also the loud noise of crackers affects animals more than it affects humans.

[v1p3r]

Eco-bunnies never stop to think. It's ok to drive your car around and throw out a crapload of carbon in various forms, and kill the earth slowly. But oh, my, we musn't scare the bulls. No sirree.

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by Sankar

Here i don't see any relation between Jallikattu & a spanish bull fighting where a bull is killed.

I never said anything about killing the animal. I didnt say its is similar to bullfighting either. The similarity is to bullrunning (as you have pointed out) and in both cases people can get hurt when they try to tame the bull. The Spanish are proud of their culture and would never get into a situation like this.

[khanak]

Im pretty happy that its banned, IMO the poor animal must be so scared when made to run through the crowds and must be so agitated through the whole process.

[DCEite]

Also read in newspapers that they throwing Chilli powder in the eyes of poor bull to make it go 'mad'.
Height of cruelty.