Jallikattu

Jallikattu

A youth trying to take control of a bull in Jallikattu at Alanganallur.
Nicknames	Eru thazhuvuthal, Manju virattu
First played	400-100 BC
Characteristics
Mixed gender	No
Type	Traditional sport
Venue	Open ground
Presence
Country or region	Tamil Nadu, India
Olympic	No
Paralympic	No

Jallikattu (or Sallikkattu), also known as eru thazhuvuthal and manju virattu, is a traditional spectacle in which a Bos indicus bull, commonly of the Kangayam breed, is released into a crowd of people and multiple human participants attempt to grab the large hump of the bull 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 practiced in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day.

Ancient Tamil Sangams described the practice as Yeru thazhuvuthal (ஏறு தழுவுதல்), literally "bull embracing". The modern term Jallikattu (ஜல்லிக்கட்டு) or Sallikattu (Tamil: சல்லிக்கட்டு) is derived from salli (coins) and kattu (package), which refers to a prize of coins that are tied to the bull's horns and that participants attempt to retrieve.Manju virattu (மஞ்சு விரட்டு) literally means "bull chasing".

Jallikattu has been known to be practiced during the Tamil classical period (400-100 BC). It was common among the ancient people Aayars who lived in the ‘Mullai’ geographical division of the ancient Tamil country. Later, it became a platform for display of bravery and prize money was introduced for participation encouragement. A seal from the Indus Valley Civilization depicting the practice is preserved in the National Museum, New Delhi. A cave painting in white kaolin discovered near Madurai depicting a lone man trying to control a bull is estimated to be about 2,500 years old.

Some variants include:

There are several general rules to Jallikattu: