Bulls awe tamers, Jallikattu events in Tamil Nadu continue to be crowd-pullers

Yougsters try to tame a bull during Avaniyapuram Jallikattu in Madurai, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020. (PTI Photo)

A villager tries to control a bull during Jallikattu in Madurai on Thursday. Approximately 1,000 bulls and an equal number of tamers are taking part in Palamedu (Madurai) and Suriyur (Tiruchirappalli) events. (Photo by REUTERS)

Indian participants try to control a bull at the annual bull taming event 'Jallikattu' in Palamedu village on the outskirts of Madurai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on January 16, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

A villager attempts to control a bull during bull-taming event, Jallikattu in Coimbatore on Sunday. (PTI Photo)

articipants with bulls during a Jallikattu event in Coimbatore on Sunday. (PTI Photo)

Villagers attempt to control a bull during the annual bull-taming festival called Jallikattu, which is part of south India's Pongal harvest festival, on the outskirts of the southern city of Madurai, India January 16, 2018. (Photo by REUTERS)

Jallikattu, the popular bull-taming sport of Tamil Nadu lived up to its reputation of being a huge crowd-puller as the contest unfolded at Palamedu here and Suriyur in Tiruchirappalli district.

As thousands of spectators continued to flock both the events, the tamers were awed by several bulls which were determined to not allow anyone to even come anywhere near them.

Interestingly, a huge bull not only allowed none to go near it, but also stood boldly on the sporting arena for a while refusing to move on.

When a team of men arrived on a mini-truck to drive it away, it kept charging towards the vehicle.

Eventually, a man well trained in cattle rearing managed to throw a rope around its neck and led it away.

Approximately 1,000 bulls and an equal number of tamers are taking part in these two events.

In Palamedu here, the event was inaugurated by Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar and tamers took an oath to stick to rules and not do anything that may harm the animals.

Jallikattu was held at Avaniapuram here on Wednesday to mark the start of the annual event. PTI VGN SS SS