Traditional sports are normally seen as a cultural heritage, but none has created as much controversy as the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu. The start of the four-day harvest festival of Ponggal also marks the start of Jallikattu, especially in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
While in Malaysia there are some who are still debating whether Ponggal is a cultural or religious festival, there are no such issues in India. Farmers and breeders of all race and religion get together to celebrate Ponggal in harmony. In recent years the controversy was about Jallikattu and not the festival itself.
The controversy over Jallikattu was not created by the farmers or participants but by animal welfare activists. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWB) filed a case for an outright ban on the sport because of its cruelty to animals and the threat to public safety.
Between 2008 and 2014, 43 participants died due to injuries sustained from the sport while only four bulls were killed.
The AWB, together with other organisations including the Federation of India Animal Protection Agencies (FIAPO) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) were actively campaigning for almost a decade to stop the sport, despite its huge popularity.
Based on the petition filed by the AWB, Jallikattu was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014. The Tamil Nadu state government and central governments stepped in to reverse the ban amid widespread protests in the state following the court decision.
Clandestine events were still held in a clear rebuke to the court decision and the matter came to a boil in 2017. While critics claimed that Jallikattu was a barbaric sports, supporters said that the ban was an assault on Tamil culture and pride. It was also claimed that Jallikattu helped identify strong bulls for breeding.
After more than a week of protests in 2017, the Tamil Nadu government passed an amendment to the central government’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 to allow Jallikattu. The amendment was subsequently approved by the President of India, effectively overturning the Supreme Court ban and allowing the sport to be played without any legal hurdle.
Jallikattu has a rich tradition and can be traced to have been played between 400-100 BC. It was common among the Ayar community in the Mullai are in South India and it became a platform for display of bravery.
A seal from the Indus Valley Civilization depicting the practice is preserved in the National Museum in New Delhi. A cave painting depicting Jallikattu discovered near Madurai depicting a lone man trying to control a bull is estimated to be about 1,500 years old.
The term Jallikattu comes from the Tamil words “salli kaasu”. “Salli” means coins while “kattu” is the package tied to a bull’s horns as prize money.
Typically, bulls of specific varieties are let out into a crowd of participants, who attempt to grab the animal by its hump and stop it from escaping.
For farmers, Jallikattu holds enormous cultural significance and an avenue to exhibit their own strength and those of their bulls.
Jallikattu is not the only traditional sports around the world that features animals. The corrida de toros, the Spanish-style bullfighting also receives flak for exploiting animals for sports. Elite sports of equestrian and polo have also had its fair share of animal abuse stories.
Horse racing, cock fighting, rodeo are also seen as abusive to animals, but surprisingly Jallikattu was seen as being singled out. Supporters of Jallikattu are not being perturbed by the detractors.
Several safeguards have been put in effect recently including ensuring that the bulls are not physically harmed during the Jallikattu. Those participating must also get their fitness certificate after a required health check-up. Allowing only those aged between 21-45 years and weighing at least 45kg is among the other restrictions in place.
No matter what controversy surrounds Ponggal or Jallikattu, both are destined to continue in preserving age-old culture.
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