Chennai: World famous Alanganallur Jallikattu began at 8 am today in which 700 bulls and 921 tamers participated.
The best bull and the best tamer, sources said, will be given one car each as gift. These cars will be given on behalf of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. The event began by releasing three temple bulls.
It may be noted that more than 20 bull tamers were injured during ‘jallikattu’ events on Thursday with the popular bull taming sport conducted at Palamedu and Suriyur in Tiruchi as part of Pongal harvest festivities. A bull sustained a minor injury at Palamedu, officials said.
An official told PTI that as many as 659 bulls were used at the Palamedu event which was inaugurated by Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar. A total of 675 tamers participated.
”As regards tamers, 16 sustained minor and 10 suffered major injuries and 10 cases have been referred (to a State run hospital),” the official said, adding only one out of the 600 plus bulls sustained a minor injury.
At Suriyur, 610 bulls were used. Over 300 tamers took part in the event, officials said, adding a woman spectator was injured when a bull hit her near the exit point. At Palamedu, which is more popular, announcements of a variety of prizes like gold coins, gift packs, cycles, and vessels kept the participants on their toes to dominate the animals and emerge victorious.
Bull owners were also anxious that their animals should evade the tamers and run over to the end point so that they could bag prizes. Nail-biting moments were witnessed when a tamer hung over the hump of a fierce bull but lost his grip and fell right in front of its legs. As luck would have it, the participant escaped unhurt as the animal effortlessly jumped across and fled. Not all were however so lucky and some sustained injuries at both Palamedu and Suriyur. But, no bull was harmed by tamers, according to officials.
Minister’s bulls unstoppable
Four bulls of Health Minister C Vijayabaskar were not caught during the event. Similarly AMMK founder, TTV Dhinakaran’s bull was also not caught by the tamers.
Other spots
Jallikattu events were also held in Karur, Dindugal and Manapparai in which a total of more than 1,200 bulls and 1,300 tamers took part.