Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : The Jallikattu festival, at Sri Pidari Amman Temple in Thiruvarankulam, has become ever more popular with people from all over the country as it attracted attendees in their thousands this year. As a primary festival that is part of the Jallikattu’s long-standing cultural custom in Tamil Nadu, it had in attendance 750 bulls, 300 bulls, and from various places, 300 skilled tamers. This event type showcases why they honor bravery and tradition in equal measure.
What exactly is Jallikattu?
Jallikattu takes its form as a sporting zevent that undergoes a competition of bull taming. It takes place during the Pongal harvest festival, together with other fairs that happen across Tamil Nadu. The test is to grip a a bull's hump while the bull will be trying to free itself from the grips of the challenger. This is evidence of bravery and, in many ways, mark of rural culture. Bulls are considered a dominant creature in the rural world, and since Jallikattu has become a region emblem, it is celebrated every year.
As mentioned previously, Jallikattu does not restrict itself to just being in Tamil Nadu. Over the years, various regions have joined in. The 2025 edition celebrated brought together:
- Participants: 750 bulls, 300 tamers
- Locale: Sri Pidari Amman Temple, Thiruvarankulam, Pudukkottai
- Safety Measures: The contest was safe thanks to checked entries and registered bulls.
- Awards: While the organizers did not specify the prizes in Pudukkottai, other events such as Madurai do hand out tractors and cars for top performers.
Vibrant decorations enhanced the appearance of featured bulls, while further display of strength and precision was shown by participants. Every successful attempt at taming a bull was met with mighty applause which helped accentuate local fascination with coming together in support of this cultural celebration.
Jallikattu's Popularity Growth in Tamil Nadu
Madurai, Alanganallur, and Palamedu also host Jallikattu events in addition to the spotlight given to Pudukkottai this week. The last celebration in 2025 was grand, boasting over 900 participants and 1,100 bulls; 3 days of celebration were held with grand prizes for the top competitors.
To ensure safety, local authorities set the following criteria:
No more than one event per bull
Bulls can only participate in one event each
Registration available through official means only
Bulls must come with their owners and trainers
These rules aid in balancing the preservation of the local culture and the need for modern safety standards.
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