Next Friday at Alanganallur, the most prestigious venue for jallikattu, top prizes for the best bulls include a car.
According to the organisers, best-performing bulls will get a car and a tractor, while talented bull tamers will get Royal Enfield bikes. The list of prizes includes more bikes, LED TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, grinders and gold coins. “Earlier, the most expensive prize used to be an ordinary bike. However, the two years of ban and the recent statewide protests in favour of jallikattu (bull taming) has created enthusiasm. This year the sponsors are running behind us, and prize announcements are pouring in,” said J. Sundarrajan, president of Alanganallur Jallikattu Organising Committee.
Preserving native breeds
The idea behind giving the expensive gifts to the bull owners, and not tamers, is to highlight the importance of preserving the native breeds of cattle. “Apart from calling for preserving tradition, the jallikattu protests were not just about preserving tradition, but also protecting the native breed of bulls. Giving a car and tractor to the best-performing bulls will bring the focus on the animal,” Mr. Sundarrajan said.
Pon. Kumar, a young businessman from the village who took part in the pro-jallikattu protests, said, “Most bull-tamers participate in jallikattu for pride and the prizes did not matter. They would be content with winning wrist watches, mixers and bicycles. However, prizes have become really attractive this year. The Bullets (Royal Enfield) could pull more bull-tamers to Alanganallur.”
V. Karthikeyan, a villager, said that though Palamedu and Avaniyapuram were also famous for jallikattu in Madurai, bull owners preferred to release their bulls only in Alanganallur since it was considered a prestigious venue. “The bulls that win prizes in Alanganallur can easily be called the best in Tamil Nadu,” he said. Now, if only the bulls knew about the prizes that awaited them.
