On Mattu Pongal day, the third day of the four-day Pongal festival, Jallikaatu could be referred to as a bull taming event traditionally performed in Tamil Nadu as part of Pongal celebrations. The word 'jallikattu' comes from the words' jalli 'and' kattu 'in the Tamil language. Jalli refers to coins made of gold or silver. Kattu stands for 'tied'. Combined together, thus, it refers to coins that are attached to the horns of the bulls, which is considered the price for anyone who tames the bull.
During the Tamil classical era of 400-100 BC, Jallikattu was considered to be practised.In the National Museum, New Delhi, a seal from the Indus Valley Civilization depicting the practise is maintained. It is estimated that a cave painting in white kaolin found near Madurai depicting a lone man attempting to control a bull is around 1,500 years old.
Through a gate called the vadi vasal, bulls enter the competition field. The most popular category of jallikattu is Vadi manjuvirattu.The bull is released from a closed space and the contestants try to tie the bull's hump around their arms or hands and hold on to it to win the prize.Veli virattu is a somewhat different strategy, as the bull is released directly into the open land.The bull is tied with a rope Va'am manjuvira'u There are no other physical constraints for the bull and it can therefore travel easily anywhere. The specified maximum time period is 30 minutes. A team of seven to nine members may try to untie the gift token that is attached to the horn of the bull.
Since injury and death events related to the sport have occurred, both to the competitors and to the animals forced into it, animal rights groups have called for a ban on the sport, resulting in the court banning it many times in recent years.
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