Jallikattu and Manjuvirattu
Why in news :
- Two spectators died in manjuvirattu events held in Pudukottai and Sivaganga districts on Tuesday.
- With this, the toll in this year’s jallikattu and manjuvirattu events has risen to four.
More about the Jallikattu festival :
- It is an ancient sport called” Embracing the Bull” which is now redefined as Jallikattu.
- Jallikattu is also called as Sallikkattu, Manjuvirattu and Eru Thazhuvuthal.
- The festival is celebrated in the harvest season and as symbolic thank giving ceremony to the bulls which helped the farmer in farming.
- Jallikattu is mentioned sangam literature as well indicating it is minimum 1500 years old.
- Jallikkattu is celebrated during the Pongal festival during January.
- The third day of the four days festival is called as Maattu Pongal.
- The bulls are decorated with flowers and special poojas are done for them.
- Farmers thank the bull for a good harvest and also pray to them for the ensuing season with better yield.
- There have been several variants in conducting Jallikkattu.
- Though the Pongal or Makarasankaranthi festival is celebrated across the country, Jallikkattu is an iconic festival of Tamil Nadu.
- People assemble at a common place where the bulls are let out one by one.
- The participating bull should be embraced by a man holding its hump for a specific amount of time.
- To encourage more participation, prizes are tied to the horns of the bull and those who are taming the bull will be rewarded with the prize.
- Since the ancient times, this sport of “Embracing the Bull” has been considered as a sign of bravery.
Syllabus : Prelims + Mains; GS1 – Art and Culture
