Jallikattu

Why in news?

• Despite the surging number of COVID-19 cases in the State, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday allowed the conduct of Jallikattu, bull taming events, during the Pongal festival.

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:

• In  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.
• In 2016, the Ministry of Environment and Forests permitted the continuation of the tradition under certain conditions, effectively ending the ban.
• However, 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 bill, exempting jallikattu from the Prevention of Cruelity to Animals Act (1960).

Other Animal Sports:

• Kambala
  • Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in 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. Jallikattu is practiced in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations.

2. Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in Karnataka

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