Chennai/Madurai: A celebratory and festive atmosphere prevails in Avaniyapuram, Palamedu and Alanganallur--the famed villages in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu, as all arrangements have been completed at a feverish pitch and the stage is set for hosting the spectacular ‘Jallikattu’ (bull taming) events this week, after a gap of three years.
With the State government unanimously passing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill, 2017 at a special sitting of the legislative assembly on January 23 to enable lifting the ban on holding Jallikattu, the decks have been cleared to hold the bull taming sport at Avaniyapuram tomorrow, followed by Palamedu on February 9 and Alanganallur on February 10.
Usually the Jallikattu events are held in Avaniyapuram on January 14, Palamedu on January 15 and Alanganallur on January 16, every year during the traditional Pongal festival, before the Supreme Court banned it in 2014 following a petition filed by animal rights organisation like PETA, citing cruelty to animals. The Congress-led UPA government issuing a notification in 2011, including bulls in the list of performing animals, also contributed to the ban. The events were deferred to different dates this year due to the legal wrangle. (UNI)