Jallikattu events commence in Tamil Nadu, 1 dead 80 injured

On Friday, a furious bull killed an 18-year-old guy at the Avaniyapuram Jallikattu festival in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Around 80 individuals were hurt at the district's famed bull-taming tournament on Pongal day, including tamers, bull owners, and spectators.

Balamurugan, a Madurai kid, was gored in the chest by a bull, according to the police. According to a senior police official, he was transferred to the government Rajaji Hospital, where medics confirmed him dead.

Karthik from Avaniyapuram won the day-long traditional sport, which ended about 5.10 p.m., after controlling 24 bulls.

A man said, "I wish I had tamed a couple more to cross the quarter-century mark." 

He tamed 16 bulls last year. He was named the best tamer of the season and received a car as a prize.

Bull-tamers Murugan and Bharat Kumar of Madurai took second and third place, respectively, after defeating 19 and 11 bulls.

Prizes were awarded not just to the tamers, but also to the animals. No one was able to tame the bull belonging to Devasagayam of Manapparai, hence he was named the best bull. Ramu of Avaniyapuram's bull and another owned by Pratish of Avaniyapuram's bull were ranked second and third, respectively.

On Friday, 641 bulls raced into the arena at Avaniyapuram in the district's Pongal harvest festival, kicking off the jallikattu fights.

On Saturday, the Madurai district will hold the traditional sport in Palamedu, with the grand finale on Monday at Alanganallur.

The world-famous event at Alanganallur will take place on Monday rather than Sunday due to a complete lockdown enforced due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state.

The three consecutive Jallikattu events in the district are important attractions every year, despite the fact that the activities are staged in other regions of Tamil Nadu.