With a few days left for Pongal, bull owners and people of close to 200 villages are anxiously hoping that ‘eruthu vidum vizha’ (bull race) will be permitted in the district.
Like ‘jallikattu’ in parts of southern Tamil Nadu, bull race is popular across Vellore district. A total of 1,500 bulls are being reared exclusively for the race in several villages.
R. Soundarajan, president, Vellore District Eruthu Vidum Paadhukaapu Sangam, said earlier nearly 225 villages conducted the race. “Until a few years ago, the race was held in 196 villages in Vellore. For the last two years, only 12 villages conducted the race as only they could afford to pay the deposit fee of Rs 2 lakh,” he said. In “eruthu vidum vizha”, a race is conducted for bulls for 100 metres. At least 200 bulls are gathered in a village for the event.
“Last year marked the 112th year of the sport conducted at Kalnarasampatti. Mostly, it is held on the third day of Pongal, while some villages organise it on the eighth day,” he said.
