Despite many hurdles since last year, jallikattu was conducted with the usual festive fervour in Tamil Nadu. The bull taming event saw the deaths of four people this year.
Here are some of the pictures from the world-famous Alanganallur jallikattu.
Bull fighters participating in the famous Alanganallur jallikattu.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami along with Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam flagged off the jallikattu at Alanganallur in Madurai district, on Tuesday.
Revenue Minister R.B. Udhayakumar had announced that a Renault car will be given as reward for the best bull tamer at the world-famous event.
Youth attempting to tame a ferocious bull at Alanganallur.
According to officials, more than 2,000 youngsters turned up for registration for the bull taming event.
A bull attacking a youth at Alanganallur jallikattu.
While the event has been incident-free in Alanganallur, there have been four jallikattu-related deaths in Palamedu, Tiruchi and Sivaganga in the State reported so far this year.
It can be noted that the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government on a petition filed by PETA to quash the new jallikattu law passed by the TN Assembly. The law brought bulls back into the fold of ‘performing animals’ and opened the gates for the conduct of the sport in the name of culture despite a 2014 ban by the SC.
Bull fighters participating in the bull taming event in Alanganallur.