What is Jallikattu and what is the protest all about? All you need to know about the bull taming sport

Thousands of protesters have been protesting against the Supreme Court's ban and against PETA.

Published: January 21, 2017 10:51 PM IST

By Sohit Mishra

Protest supporting Jallikattu
Protest supporting Jallikattu

Chennai, Jan 21: Thousands of people in Chennai and many more across Tamil Nadu have came forward protesting against the Supreme Court ban on their traditional sport of Jallikattu. Supporters of the sport have been peacefully protesting this decision and various protesters have come together at Marina Beach to get their voice heard. While the enthusiastic supporters tried to remove the ban before the festival, the Supreme Court held the decision. The state government as well as all the political parties in the state are also in support of the bull taming sport. After a long battle and protest in support of Jallikattu, Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao approved an executive ordinance by the state government which will allow the bull-taming sport to be held in Tamil Nadu. Here’s everything you should know about the bull taming sport:

Jallikattu

Jallikattu is an ancient sport which is been celebrated since the Tamil classical period (400 BC) by the Ayars who lived in ‘Mullai’ division of the Tamil country. Jallikattu is organised during the mid-January harvest festival called Pongal. The sport involved releasing a bull to the crowd of people and people try to grab its hump and ride on it for as long as possible. The bulls are specifically bred for the event. At the end, the weak bulls are used for agricultural purposes whereas the untameable bulls are used for breeding purposes.

Why is PETA against it?

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has opposed the sport stating that Jallikattu exploits bulls and as per a July 7 2011 notification in The Gazette of India, using bulls as performance is illegal. The legality of the game started in 2006 when a youngster watching Jallikattu was killed by an enraged bull and subsequently, the victim’s father filed a petition against the sport and later, the Madurai bench of Madras High Court banned the sport in March 2006. PETA India has also documented that from 2010 to 2014, more than 1,100 people have been injured and 17 people have died due to the Jallikattu event.

Supreme Court’s Ban

In 2014, the Supreme Court banned the sport upholding concerns raised by number of deaths and injuries caused by Jallikattu events between 2010-2014. The Supreme Court in its decision stated that, “use of bulls in such events severely harmed the animals and constituted an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to the Animals Act.”

Events following the Ban

Even after the Supreme Court’s decision in 2014, the ban was more or less effective in 2015 after which the Central government took note of the requests made by pro-Jallikattu groups and later in January 2016, the Tamil Nadu government reversed the ban and passed and ordered to exempt the sport from performances where bulls cannot be used. However, just few days after the state government passed the order, the Supreme Court struck down the government to uphold its ban.

Current crisis

A plea was made in the Supreme Court by a group of lawyers seeking an urgent ruling on Jallikattu so that the sport can be organised on Pongal. However, the Supreme Court rejected the plea. This infuriated a large population of Tamilians who started to protest against the decision.  A group of protesters in Alanganallur in Madurai district were arrested after which people started assembling at Marina Beach to protest against the ban and PETA. Along with Marina Beach, protests were also held in different parts of the state. The protest received support from many personalities belonging to different fields. From Kalal Haasan to Rajinikanth, everyone spoke in favor of the cultural sport. Actor Vijay visited Marina Beach to support the protest and in a video message, Vijay stated that,”Law was not created to rob people off their tradition and rights but to protect it. Jallikattu is every Tamilians identity. Those who are protesting against the ban on Jallikattu are united by the feeling that they are Tamilians but not out of compulsion or political pressure. I bow down to each and everyone of them.” Others to visit Marina Beach include Suriya Sivakumar and Vishal. “The group called PETA which won in the court of law by carrying out a campaign of lies that Jallikattu was inimical to bulls has lost in the people’s court.”It is paradoxical to see those aiding extinction of native breeds talk about cruelty to bulls,” Suriya said. The AIADMK leaders also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee to seek a solution to the issue.

What’s next

After a long three year struggle and a series of protest, Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao on Saturday evening approved an executive ordinance by the state government which will allow the bull-taming sport to be held in Tamil Nadu. On Sunday, all Tamil Nadu state ministers will inaugurate Jallikattu in their respective districts.The Tamil Nadu government is also exploring legal opinion to ban animal right organisation PETA in their state, which was allegedly ‘lobbying’ against the bull-taming festival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that all efforts are being made to fulfil the cultural aspirations of Tamil people. He tweeted, “We are very proud of the rich culture of Tamil Nadu…Central Government is fully committed to the progress of Tamil Nadu and will always work to ensure the state scales new avenues of progress”.

Supreme Court which has put a ban on Jallikattu three years ago, on Friday agreed not to deliver its verdict by next week, as requested by the centre, which pointed out that a decision could create a law and order problems in the state.Animal rights activists who had appealed against Jallikattu celebration said that the bulls are abused, tortured, taunted with chillis flung in their eyes and are doped on liquor. More than a million people in Tamil Nadu said that it was not correct and that those who oppose Jallikattu do not understand the culture of Tamil Nadu.

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