The sleepy town of Alanganallur, here popular for its 'world famous jallikattu,' tag turned live again for this year's season as hundreds of tamers and bulls tried to get the better of each other on Friday while two spectators died.
Right from the start, there was no dearth of exciting moments as determined men chased evasive bulls keenly watched by thousands of men, women and children and several of them from roof-tops and from wherever they got a vantage view.
Eventually, when the day-long event concluded, Ranjith Kumar, a local youth, who dominated 16 bulls in a single round won the first prize and he was awarded a Hyundai Santro car.
"Chief Minister K Palaniswami will hand over the car in Chennai," Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar said adding the owner of bull adjudged best will also geta car.
The second prize winner got a motorbike and the man at the third spot received Rs 10,000 cash prize.
According to administrators, reigning 16 bulls in a single round is an "achievement." The second and third prize winners got the better of 13 and 14 bulls respectively.
The Alanganallur jallikattu is hugely popular and known for its 'world famous tag,' for reasons like the valour of bulls and men and the arrival of people from far and wide to witness it including foreigners.
Similar bull taming events were held in a number of other places today including one at Rachandar Thirumalai near Tiruchirappalli.