Bull race (Manju Virattu) was held in Adamangalam Pudur and several other villages in Tiruvannamalai district defying ban on Monday.
Although it is different from jallikattu and nobody tries to tame the bull, it was also banned along with jallikattu. This year the bull races were organised in several villages in Tiruvannamalai district and hence it had been difficult for the police to prevent it.
Bulls that are given a wash and whose horns are painted colourfully for Pongal are let loose onto the street in the race. The bulls will run in the street with leaps and bounds. At the end of the street, the owner of the bull stops them and takes them home. In some cases, the owners tie the prizes to the horns of the animal. Anyone who stops the bull can take the prize. It is rare for men to take on a bull by its horns in such events. Apart from bulls, bullocks (castrated bulls) are also deployed in the race.
Normally, the event is held on Kaanum Pongal , the third day after Pongal festival. Adamangalam Pudur is famous for its bull race and attracts a large number of people. However, because of the Supreme Court ban, the bull owners started holding the festival with small number of bulls from the first day of Pongal.
This year, after holding the race on Perum Pongal and Maattu Pongal, they organised the show piece event on Kaanum Pongal on Monday. Nearly 40 bulls took part in the race. Similar events were organised at Keel Paalur, Mel Sozhankuppam, Veeralur and nearby villages.
S.L.P. Bala, president of Tiruvannamalai District Manju Virattu, Jallikattu Veera Vilayattu Rasigargal Paathukappu Sangam, said: “Bulls reared for the purpose of breeding are engaged in the jallikattu in southern Tamil Nadu. In northern Tamil Nadu, bullocks (castrated bulls) owned by farmers are engaged in the race. This is merely for the pleasure of farmers and bullocks. These bulls are not used in farm work for several days before the festival. They receive extraordinary care to make them brisk and strong. This year, the bull races were held in several villages of Tiruvannamalai district on different days of Pongal festival. Kalasapakkam police booked 13 cases against me for organising or getting involved in organising the bull races in different villages,” he added.
