It's only highly appalling to me if I don't write down all my anger and frustration about the comments and articles recently being seen all over the media about the traditional "Jallikattu - Bull taming festival" I repeat it is "Bull taming and not Bull Fighting". Being one of the person who lives in close proximity to all the major Jallikattu hosting locales, it is only proper and just that I do so.
If I can remember the first instance I saw Jallikattu live properly, then it was in my home village around 15 years ago, when most of the rules were not strictly followed. I was standing on the outermost circle possible as I was frightened that any of bulls might run into the crowd and witnessing it. The Jallikattu in most interior parts would start by first releasing the "Kovil Kaalai - The village's guardian temple's bull", which no one must try to catch. It will wander around the ground for some time and go. Then the competing bulls will be released one by one, with the person in the mic instructing the participants in the ground on how to tame the bull. Some bulls might be first timers, during releasing such bulls the commentator will indicate it so that the amateurs in the sport only will try taming such bulls. A few instances of tail pulling and the bulls hurting the participants did happen. It was one of the very memorable times to witness the thrill and the guts portrayed first hand.
Everyone in Tamil Nadu will definitely have such experiences of their own. If you are doubtful then you are most welcome to question this to anyone who lives in not just the "metro cities". Okay now all this memories and thrills and stuff, is this worth when it comes at the cost of the suffering of an animal? One might ask. For them my answer is only this "You are making a judgement without proper depth knowledge". Let me tell you a few things about the Jallikattu :
Jallikattu can be translated into English as "Bull Taming and not Bull Fighting". If you have seen Jallikattu in movies where the hero fights the bull one on one and takes him to ground by twisting his horn and think of that as Jallikattu, then you are extremely uninformed.
Here are the important rules:
1. The rule is that the person (and please note that only one person) should grab the hump of the bull and travel till the finish line - Mostly 50 meters or for 5-7 seconds.
2. No one must grab the bull by it's tail or horn, such participants will be immediately disqualified.
3. Only one person must try to grab the bull, two or more people must not try to tame it.
4. No one is allowed to hit/kick the bull or by any means hurt it, they will be disqualified immediately.
5. All the participants will be medically tested before being allowed to participate and will be handed over uniforms. Only they will be inside the ground.
6. All bulls will be released one by one only and the bull will not be released if people are hooting or howling at the bull and frightening it.
7. All bulls will also be medically tested before allowing them to participate.
8. Minimum 4-5 ambulances and same number of medical teams will be present with all the required first aid in case any one gets hurt.
9. Proper supervision will be done by either the District Collector or any Government official of high ranking so that these rules are strictly followed.
So now you will be fairly clear that utmost care is taken on part of the organizers for safety of the bull. Now I will tell you about the more important people - The one's who grow and train these bulls and how it is done. A Jallikattu bull will be given the treatment of an Alpha-Male in the family. It is the most important pet for the ones training it. If during the competition anyone tries to hurt the bull then they will not only be disqualified but also will be put to proper "treatment" by the bulls' owner.
The bulls will be taken care of with extreme nutrition and protection before, during and after the event. They are trained to perform.
If you still have the idea that it must be banned then please read further for the few things in ths world you need to stop before stopping Jallikattu :
1. You then need to support to ban sports like Rugby and American Football where humans are trained to fight head on and there are numerous cases of people who have gone crazy after their career due to the number of hits they've taken.
2. You need to stop eating meat all together, no animal willingly sacrificed their flesh for you to taste and if being provided with the meat of an animal that died a natural death or out of sickness you will get angry. So stop eating meat if you really care about animals.
3. This is the most important thing, Stop making judgments and supporting for things where you have not been directly involved or directly witnessed or have clearly understood the rules.
When talking about Cricket in India, do you talk about the betting story of Mohd. Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja or the World Cup glories of 2003 and 2011?
The same way, when you talk about "Our- Tamil Tradition" first understand it, then look at the steps taken to avoid any casualties or even accidents involved and then look at the negative side (I assure they have been eliminated mostly if not completely). This is our tradition and kindly do not put in your hypocrite suit and supporting the ban against Jallikattu when eating the KFC Grilled burger or Beef Biriyani.
All we want to do is for our future generations to know about the traditions and how we treated these animals as more than just a property, if you can't help it then don't *BEEPing* ruin it. Over and out!!! Meet you soon at one of the Jallikattus. :)
If I can remember the first instance I saw Jallikattu live properly, then it was in my home village around 15 years ago, when most of the rules were not strictly followed. I was standing on the outermost circle possible as I was frightened that any of bulls might run into the crowd and witnessing it. The Jallikattu in most interior parts would start by first releasing the "Kovil Kaalai - The village's guardian temple's bull", which no one must try to catch. It will wander around the ground for some time and go. Then the competing bulls will be released one by one, with the person in the mic instructing the participants in the ground on how to tame the bull. Some bulls might be first timers, during releasing such bulls the commentator will indicate it so that the amateurs in the sport only will try taming such bulls. A few instances of tail pulling and the bulls hurting the participants did happen. It was one of the very memorable times to witness the thrill and the guts portrayed first hand.Everyone in Tamil Nadu will definitely have such experiences of their own. If you are doubtful then you are most welcome to question this to anyone who lives in not just the "metro cities". Okay now all this memories and thrills and stuff, is this worth when it comes at the cost of the suffering of an animal? One might ask. For them my answer is only this "You are making a judgement without proper depth knowledge". Let me tell you a few things about the Jallikattu :
Jallikattu can be translated into English as "Bull Taming and not Bull Fighting". If you have seen Jallikattu in movies where the hero fights the bull one on one and takes him to ground by twisting his horn and think of that as Jallikattu, then you are extremely uninformed.
Here are the important rules:
1. The rule is that the person (and please note that only one person) should grab the hump of the bull and travel till the finish line - Mostly 50 meters or for 5-7 seconds.
2. No one must grab the bull by it's tail or horn, such participants will be immediately disqualified.
3. Only one person must try to grab the bull, two or more people must not try to tame it.
4. No one is allowed to hit/kick the bull or by any means hurt it, they will be disqualified immediately.
5. All the participants will be medically tested before being allowed to participate and will be handed over uniforms. Only they will be inside the ground.
6. All bulls will be released one by one only and the bull will not be released if people are hooting or howling at the bull and frightening it.
7. All bulls will also be medically tested before allowing them to participate.
8. Minimum 4-5 ambulances and same number of medical teams will be present with all the required first aid in case any one gets hurt.
9. Proper supervision will be done by either the District Collector or any Government official of high ranking so that these rules are strictly followed.
So now you will be fairly clear that utmost care is taken on part of the organizers for safety of the bull. Now I will tell you about the more important people - The one's who grow and train these bulls and how it is done. A Jallikattu bull will be given the treatment of an Alpha-Male in the family. It is the most important pet for the ones training it. If during the competition anyone tries to hurt the bull then they will not only be disqualified but also will be put to proper "treatment" by the bulls' owner.
The bulls will be taken care of with extreme nutrition and protection before, during and after the event. They are trained to perform.
If you still have the idea that it must be banned then please read further for the few things in ths world you need to stop before stopping Jallikattu :
1. You then need to support to ban sports like Rugby and American Football where humans are trained to fight head on and there are numerous cases of people who have gone crazy after their career due to the number of hits they've taken.
2. You need to stop eating meat all together, no animal willingly sacrificed their flesh for you to taste and if being provided with the meat of an animal that died a natural death or out of sickness you will get angry. So stop eating meat if you really care about animals.
3. This is the most important thing, Stop making judgments and supporting for things where you have not been directly involved or directly witnessed or have clearly understood the rules.
When talking about Cricket in India, do you talk about the betting story of Mohd. Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja or the World Cup glories of 2003 and 2011?
The same way, when you talk about "Our- Tamil Tradition" first understand it, then look at the steps taken to avoid any casualties or even accidents involved and then look at the negative side (I assure they have been eliminated mostly if not completely). This is our tradition and kindly do not put in your hypocrite suit and supporting the ban against Jallikattu when eating the KFC Grilled burger or Beef Biriyani.
All we want to do is for our future generations to know about the traditions and how we treated these animals as more than just a property, if you can't help it then don't *BEEPing* ruin it. Over and out!!! Meet you soon at one of the Jallikattus. :)
