Protests demanding lifting of the ban and against lifting ban on bull-taming sport ‘jallikattu’ have spread to up to Sri Lanka. Tamil Nadu has overwhelmingly taken by spread of protest over past weeks regarding this issue.
Jallikattu or Eru thazhuvuthal and Manju virattu is a traditional sport, which is typically practiced in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day. There a ‘Bos indicus’ bull is released into a crowd of people. Multiple human participants (male) attempt to grab and tightly "hug" the large hump of the bull and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. Participants hug the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. In some cases, participants must ride long enough to remove flags affixed to the bull's horns.
This traditional sport has been known to be practiced during the Tamil classical period (400-100 BC), which was common among the ancient people Aayars who lived in the ‘Mullai’ geographical division of the ancient Tamil country. Later, it became a platform for display of bravery and prize money was introduced for participation encouragement.
Jalikattu is often presented in Tamil cinema where the hero tames the bull to prove his gallantry.
According to Indian media, just over four years, from 2010 to 2014, at least 1,100 people have been injured due to jallikattu-type events, and 17 people have died. However, the original figures are bound to be higher.
Animal activists, the Federation of India Animal Protection Agencies (FIAPO) and PETA India have protested against the practice since 2004.
In a judgment by Indian Supreme Court categorically held that Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change cannot allow jallikattu or bull races and cannot modify the notification without taking the Animal Welfare Board of India's (AWBI).
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the demand to propagate an ordinance enabling the holding of the traditional bull-taming sport citing the matter as sub-judice made a massive stir in the southern Indian state.
TN Chief Minister O Pannerselvam stated that Jallikattu, will return to Tamil Nadu in a couple of days through an ordinance or executive order that he has sent for the President's approval. He urged the thousands of people who have gathered at Chennai's Marina Beach for more than four days, to end their protest. But the protesters; mostly students and professionals, said they will not leave till a formal order removing the ban is issued.
Top Tamil Nadu celebrities Rajinikanth, Ajit, Kamal Haasan, AR Rahman and Viswanathan Anand came out in support of Jallikattu on as protests against a court ban.
I'm fasting tomorrow to support the spirit of
— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) January 19, 2017
Tamilnadu!
Protests demanding lifting of the ban on bull-taming sport 'jallikattu' have spread to beyond India with the Tamil diaspora in Sri Lanka, Britain and Australia holding demonstrations.
Meddling with Tamil Nadu chaos has become a trend in Sri Lanka.
Even though there is no Jallikattu tradition in Sri Lankan Tamil villages, some have enthusiastically joined the Jallikattu restoration movement now going on in Tamil Nadu by organizing demonstrations in support of it in Jaffna and Chavakachcheri.
Another demonstration called in Colombo this weekend by ‘Supporting Jallikattu from Sri Lanka’.
On the other hand there are some protests against Jallikattu as well.
