Jallikattu has been the news lately with the Supreme Court on Thursday Jan 12,2017 rejecting a petition to allow the bull-taming sport to take place on Pongal. Here is everything you need to know about the sport.
Origin
- Jallikattu has been around for over 2000 years. The event was recorded in ancient literature as ‘yeru thaluvudal’ (hugging the bull). Initially, it was a ceremony to select a bridegroom - the successful tamer would get to marry the maiden.
- Jallikattu has been around for over 2000 years. The event was recorded in ancient literature as ‘yeru thaluvudal’ (hugging the bull). Initially, it was a ceremony to select a bridegroom - the successful tamer would get to marry the maiden.
The Game
- The sport involves a natively reared stud that is set free inside an arena filled with young participants. The challenge lies in taming the bull with bare hands.
- The sport involves a natively reared stud that is set free inside an arena filled with young participants. The challenge lies in taming the bull with bare hands.
- Ideally, participants try to grab the bull by its horns or tail and wrestle it into submission.
Name
- The name Jallikattu is derived from the word ‘salli’ or ‘kasu’ meaning coins and ‘kattu’ meaning bundle/pouch. The pouch, made of yellow cloth, filled with coins, is tied to the bull’s horns. The tamer gets the pouch.
- The name Jallikattu is derived from the word ‘salli’ or ‘kasu’ meaning coins and ‘kattu’ meaning bundle/pouch. The pouch, made of yellow cloth, filled with coins, is tied to the bull’s horns. The tamer gets the pouch.
Why During Pongal
- On 3rd day of the four-day-harvest festival, people offer prayers to bulls, cows and other farm animals and then play the customary bull-taming sport. They believe that not playing the sport will displease local deities, including lord Muniswara.
- On 3rd day of the four-day-harvest festival, people offer prayers to bulls, cows and other farm animals and then play the customary bull-taming sport. They believe that not playing the sport will displease local deities, including lord Muniswara.
Districts
- The biggest Jallikattu, at Alanganallur, has the tourism department’s patronage. The event also takes place in Avaniapuram and Palamedu of Madurai district and in some villages in surrounding districts like Pudukottai, Tiruchirapalli and Thanjavur
- The biggest Jallikattu, at Alanganallur, has the tourism department’s patronage. The event also takes place in Avaniapuram and Palamedu of Madurai district and in some villages in surrounding districts like Pudukottai, Tiruchirapalli and Thanjavur
Jallikattu flouts the law on animal cruelty in the following manner.
Ear cutting/Mutilation
- Justification: By cutting the ear, the animal would be able to hear sounds even from the back, important while the animals are in the Jallikattu arena
- Concern: Cutting external ear in no way helps to improve a bull’s hearing. Instead, the bull loses his natural ability to receive sounds signals
- Violation: Section 11(1)(a) of the prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960; section 11(1)(l), which prohibits the mutilation of an animal’s body.
Fracture and dislocation of tail bones
- Observation: Bulls suffered from dislocated or even amputated tails caused by deliberate pulling and twisting.
- Concern: Dislocation and fracture of the tail vertebrae are extremely painful conditions.
- Violation: Section 11(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
Biting the bull’s tail
- Observation: Bulls are poked, beaten and deliberately agitated before they are forced into the Jallikattu arena
- Concern: any direct pressure or injury to the tail bones causes extreme pain that sends bulls into a frenzy
- Violation: Section 11(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
Poking bulls with knives and sticks
- Observation: many bulls were poked with sticks by owners, police officials and organizers inside arena
- Concern: Poking bulls with sticks or sharp knives causes immense pain and agitation
- Violation: Section 11(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
Using irritants
- Observation: Irritant solutions rubbed into the eyes and noses of bulls in order to agitate them
- Concern: Eyes and noses are very sensitive, sensory organs, and the use of any irritating chemicals causes pain, distress and an intense sensation
- Violation: Section 11(1)(c), which prohibits the willful and unreasonable administration of any injurious drug or substance to any animal
Using nose ropes
- Observation: Nose ropes are frequently pulled, yanked or tightened in order to control bulls before they were released into arenas. some animals were even bleeding from the nose as a result of injuries caused by pulling the rope.
- Concern: Pulling or twisting the nose rope exerts pressure on the nerve-rich and extremely sensitive septum, causing bulls pain and making it easier for handlers to force them to move in a desired direction.
- Violation: Section 11(1)(a) of the prevention of cruelty to animals act, 1960
Timeline: Jallikattu Ban And Controversy
The Supreme Court of India's(SCI) refusal to entertain a petition on lifting the ban on Jallikattu on Thursday Jan 12,2017 is latest addition to events surrounding the bull-taming sport.
Below is a timeline of how the controversy around the ban of the sport.
- 2011: The Environment Ministry added bulls to its 1991 notification banning the training and exhibition of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and dogs.
- April 2014: Emphasising on the “historic, cultural and religious significance of the event”, Centre allows use of bull in Jallikattu, by amending the list of animals prohibited from being trained for performances.
- May 7, 2014: SC passed a landmark judgment in favour of Peta & the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) clarifying that bulls must not be used in Jallikattu, bull races, bullfights or any other type of performance.
- Jan 7, 2016: Centre revokes ban on Jallikattu through a notification that mentions that this exemption is subject to the condition that bulls are treated properly and not subjected to cruelty.
- Jan 11, 2016: Centre's notification allowing bull taming sport challenged in SC by PETA & a Bengaluru-based NGO.
- Jan 12, 2016: SC stays Centre’s notification allowing Jallikattu & issued notice to the MoEF and Tamil Nadu on petitions filed by various bodies including AWBI.
- Nov 9, 2016: Questioning the centre for its notification on allowing the use of bulls in events like Jallikattu, the SC said India cannot “import roman gladiator type sport”.
- Nov 16, 2016: SC dismissed the Tamil Nadu’s plea to lift the ban on jallikattu in the state, saying it finds no ground to allow the state for the bull taming sport.
- Dec 1, 2016: SC questioned the Centre for its 2016 notification allowing use of bulls in events like Jallikattu, saying that its 2014 verdict banning the use of the animals cannot be “negated”.
- Jan 9, 2017: TN CM O Panneerselvam requested PM Modi to pass an ordinance to allow the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu during the pongal festival this year.
- Jan 11, 2017: AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala wrote a letter to PM Modi seeking promulgation of an ordinance for conduct of the bull taming sport Jallikattu.
- Jan 12, 2017: SC that it will not be able to give verdict on allowing the bull taming sport by January 14, 2017, when the harvest festival will be held
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