Southern Tamil Nadu, home to Jallikkattu (taming of bulls) erupted in joy on Friday morning as television news channels flashed the news that the Union Government lifted the ban on the sport, which is known as Veera Vilayattu (sport of the bold) in this part of the country. Till Thursday, there was a discontentment among the people that State may have to bear with the Pongal festival without the age-old sport of taming of bulls by the youth.
Tamil Nadu has been witnessing demonstrations and agitations demanding the lifting of the ban on Jallikkattu from all sections of the society. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was in the forefront of the demand for the lifting of the ban on this sport. She had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for either an ordinance or convening a special session of both Houses of Parliament to enact a legislation to amend the Supreme Court verdict of May 2014, which declared the sport anti-animal.
Jayalalithaa was the first person to congratulate the Prime Minister over the move by the ministry of environment to amend the 2011 notification which made it possible for the organisers to conduct the adventure sports in the weeks following the Pongal, the annual harvest festival which falls on January 15.
“I am very grateful to you for your prompt response in the matter, which has enabled the conduct of ‘Jallikattu’, a sport which upholds traditional cultural values and traditions of Tamil Nadu and has great historical significance and also ensures the conservation of native germ plasm, and continuance of traditional breeds of indigenous cattle,” Jayalalithaa said in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister. Other political leaders too thanked the Prime Minister for making the Pongal festival a meaningful affair.
For leaders of BJP in Tamil Nadu, especially union minister Pon Radhakrishnan, it was a prestige issue. Minister Radhakrishnan had given assurance to people of State, which is going to the assembly polls shortly, that the sport would be back this festival season.
Though bull tamers and breeders of the special variety of bulls meant for Jallikkattu expressed their joy over the lifting of the ban, one may have to wait for next few days to say the last word. Animal lovers including officials of Animal Welfare Board of India are upset over the move to lift the ban. Dr Nanditha Krishna, noted environmentalist and animal lover said Union Government’s move would be challenged by the animal lovers in the SC on Monday.