The Tamil annual festival, Pongal has more vigour in districts like Madurai, Pudukottai, Tiruchirapalli and Tanjavur for it hosts the famous and ancient sports festival — Jallikattu. The bullfight that is similar to the Spanish bullfights traces its history to around 2,000 years when the fight was conducted to select the most suitable bridegroom.
Due to the risk of injury, both to the participants and the bull, the animal rights organisations called for a ban on the sport. However, after long protests by the people against the ban, the Supreme Court, in May 2023, upheld the Tamil Nadu Government’s law allowing the bull-taming sport Jallikattu in the State.
The Tamil Nadu Government had defended the event of Jallikattu and told the apex court that sporting events can also be a cultural event and there is no cruelty on the bulls.
