Taming of the bull
In a sport that’s part training of animal, part showcasing of strength,
young men seek to tame a raging bull
Jallikattu, a sport involving men vs the traditional cattle breeds of Tamil Nadu, moved sharply into focus during 2015-16, when huge crowds gathered at various places in the State, mainly the Marina in Chennai, to protest against the banning of the sport in those years. Once considered a rough contact sport, jallikattu, largely practised in Madurai, Tiruchi, Pudukottai, and nearby districts of Tamil Nadu, somehow evolved into a symbol of Tamil pride.
Eventually, in 2017, the Tamil Nadu government passed an ordinance to allow the conduct of the sport, though subsequent events were vitiated by deaths and accusations of ill-treatment of the animals during jallikattu and similar sports such as rekla races and eruthattam.
Actually, jallikattu begins long before a bull is allowed to enter the arena on the day of the event. It begins when a calf shows it has a mind of its own. Stories of the disobedient animal — often of the indigenous Pulikulam or Kangayam variety — travel from village to village. In the shed where the calf is kept, children arrive first, taunting, and are given a lesson in respect by the charging animal.
Growing into a hefty bull, the animal answers only to its trainer or owner. Keeping up its high energy levels is a special diet, which owners ensure the animal gets, sometimes even skimping on their own food.
Training the bull goes on for weeks on end, and involves taking the animal for a swim to strengthen its limbs and allowing it to run through makeshift vaadivasals in the presence of teasing youngsters.
The strong bond between boy and beast starts developing from the time both are young.
A young boy in the field with a bull calf. As it grows along with its tamer, the calf forms a deep attachment to the boy.
A young boy in the field with a bull calf. As it grows along with its tamer, the calf forms a deep attachment to the boy.
The picture emerges. Jallikattu is no child’s play but is a deeply-rooted, centuries-old tradition that grips the attention of an entire village at a particular time of the year in Tamil Nadu. A scene from the Palamedu Jallikattu ground in Madurai district.
Owner’s pride: Young bulls at Palamedu get all the attention from their owner and tamer, Karthikeyan, whose main aim is to ensure that they grow into prize fighters in the Jallikattu circuit. Years of training lie ahead for the animals.
Owner’s pride: Young bulls at Palamedu get all the attention from their owner and tamer, Karthikeyan, whose main aim is to ensure that they grow into prize fighters in the Jallikattu circuit. Years of training lie ahead for the animals.
Bulls are left alone in the fields for days on end, tied to pegs on the ground with a long rope. This is a training tactic to keep them away from people and avoid familiarity with humans.
Menacing silhouette: Karuppu, one of the prized bulls in the Jallikattu circuit, along with its tamer.
Menacing silhouette: Karuppu, one of the prized bulls in the Jallikattu circuit, along with its tamer.
Out in the field: Loosening limbs and strengthening sinews
Bull tamers giving a bull intensive training before taking him to the Jallikattu field.
Bull tamers giving a bull intensive training before taking him to the Jallikattu field.
Getting ready for the grand finale.
An owner testing the sharpness of the bull’s horns before sending him into the field
An owner testing the sharpness of the bull’s horns before sending him into the field
Pride of place: Jallikattu bulls are loved and revered by the village communities
During the training, bulls are fed a special diet to keep their energy levels high. The owners ensure that the animal gets this nutrition, even if it means skimping on their own food.
During the training, bulls are fed a special diet to keep their energy levels high. The owners ensure that the animal gets this nutrition, even if it means skimping on their own food.
Grand opening: The Vaadivasal, or the gateway to the arena, at Palamedu.
In the thick of the action: Bull tamers grappling with the Jallikattu bull at Alanganallur, Madurai.
In the thick of the action: Bull tamers grappling with the Jallikattu bull at Alanganallur, Madurai.
