Bull tamers swarm to participate in Jallikattu in Madurai

People gathered in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai to participate in the traditional bull-taming sport ‘Jallikattu’ on January 17. Spectators were noticed cheering for the bull tamers in Alanganallur village. More than 700 bulls are participating in the competition. The Supreme Court (SC) in 2014 had banned ‘Jallikattu’ after a plea was filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) but the state government insisted Jallikattu was a crucial part of its culture and identity. The ban was later lifted in January 2017 with an amendment due to massive protests along the Marina beach in Chennai.