Jallikattu festival begins in Madurai; 1,100 bulls and 900 tamers compete

The highly anticipated three-day Jallikattu festival in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, commenced on Tuesday, with Avaniyapuram village hosting the first event.

This event features 1,100 bulls and 900 bull-tamers. The best bull will be awarded a tractor valued at Rs 11 lakhs, while the best bull-tamer will receive a car worth Rs 8 lakhs, along with additional prizes.

The remaining two events will take place at Palamedu on January 15 and Alanganallur on January 16. Strict regulations and security measures are in place for the smooth conduct of these events.

According to instructions from the Madurai district administration, each bull is allowed to participate in only one of the three local Jallikattu events. Each bull must be accompanied solely by its owner and a trainer familiar with the animal.

Registration for both bull owners and tamers is mandatory via the official district administration website, "madurai.nic.in." All submitted documents are thoroughly verified, and only eligible participants are issued a downloadable token. This token is required for entry into the event, with no exceptions.

The Jallikattu competitions in Madurai, especially in Alanganallur, are internationally recognized as vibrant celebrations of Tamil heritage and rural bravery. With preparations in full swing, this year’s events are expected to draw significant participation and global attention.

The first Jallikattu of 2025 was held on Saturday at Thachankurichi village in Pudukkottai district, which is known for hosting the most Jallikattu events in Tamil Nadu. The district boasts the highest number of vadivasal (bull entry points) and typically organizes over 120 Jallikattu events, more than 30 bullock cart races, and 50 vadamadu (tethered bull) events from January through May 31.

Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport mostly celebrated in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal festival. In the event, a bull is released into a crowd, and participants attempt to seize the large hump on the bull's back, striving to bring it to a halt.

The origins of Jallikattu trace back to 400-100 BCE, where it was played by the Ayars, an ethnic group in India. The term "Jallikattu" is derived from two words: "Jalli" (meaning silver and gold coins) and "Kattu" (meaning tied).