: Students and youngsters from across the State thronged Palamedu, where jallikattu was organised on Thursday after a gap of two years.
The event began at around 8 a.m. with the administration of a pledge on safety by Madurai Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao to the bull tamers, bull owners and the organising committee representatives.
Later, six bulls associated with temples of different communities in Palamedu were brought to the arena and honoured. The first batch of 300 bull tamers entered the arena later as part of the district administration’s plan to send them in batches to avoid congestion, following which the bulls were released one after the other.
Show-stealer
The show-stealer of the Palamedu jallikattu on Thursday was 34-year-old R. Karupanan, who tamed nine bulls, and won a Royal Enfield bike. A special committee formed by the district administration identified five best bull tamers who adhered to all the rules, for whom Collector Rao awarded certificates of recognition.
Mr. Karupanan, declared the best, was awarded a Royal Enfield bike by the village organizing committee to loud cheers by the gathered public.
Gallery collapses
Claiming that this was the most expensive prize he ever received in his 17 years of participation in jallikattu at various places, Mr. Karupanan said that he dedicated the prize to all pro-Jallikattu protesters who made the event possible this time. A gallery erected for the media collapsed partially in the afternoon due to overcrowding as the police personnel failed to ensure that only with valid passes were allowed in the gallery.
Everyone gathered in the gallery, however, escaped fortunately without injuries.
