Jallikattu

Why in news?

• A 24-year-old man, who had been gored by his friend’s bull at a jallikattu event held in Alanganallur in Tamil Nadu, succumbed to his injuries.

About Erudhattam/Jallikattu

• Jallikattu, also known as eru thazhuvuthal, is a traditional event in which a bull (Bos indicus) is released into a crowd of people, and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump on the bull's back with both arms and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape.
• Participants hold the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. In some cases, participants must ride long enough to remove flags on the bull's horns.
• Jallikattu is typically practised in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day, which occurs annually in January.
• Erudhattam (bull run) is a a form of Jallikattu, which is also popular in parts of Tamil Nadu.

Issues and controversy

• On 7 May 2014, the Supreme Court of India had banned jallikattu in Tamil Nadu altogether.
• The Supreme Court noted that any flouting of the ban should result in penalties for cruelty to animals under The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
• On 8 January 2016, the Ministry of Environment and Forests permitted the continuation of the tradition under certain conditions, effectively ending the ban.
• However, on 14 January 2016, the Supreme Court of India issued a stay on this order, upholding the ban, after a petition filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and PETA India, leading to protests all over Tamil Nadu.
• In January 2017 the Tamil Nadu legislature passed a bipartisan bill, with the accession of the Prime Minister, exempting jallikattu from the Prevention of Cruelity to Animals Act (1960).

Other Animal Sports- Kambala

•  Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka.
• Traditionally, it is sponsored by local Tuluva landlords and households in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, a region collectively known as Tulu Nadu.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements:
1.Kambala is an annual buffalo race from Andhra Pradesh.
2.Jallikattu competitions are held in Tamil Nadu during the Pongal celebrations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only     
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims Question