JALLIKATTU “Tamil pride”
Introduction and origin- Jallikattu is a traditional bull-chasing sport of Tamil Nadu which is organised during the harvest festival Pongal. The sport is more than two millennia old. A 2,500-year-old cave painting discovered near Madurai, shows a man trying to control a bull. Historical references indicate that the sport was popular among warriors during the Tamil classical period. Several rock paintings, more than 3,500 years old, at the remote Karikkiyur village in Tamil Nadu also show men chasing bulls with big humps and long, straight horns. Jallikattu is the corruption of the word “Sallikattu” where Salli means coins and Kattu means a particular kind of bag which is still famous in Villages south India. It refers to the bag of coins tied to the horns of bull which contestants try to get hold. The sport was also called Yaeru Thazhuvuthal, which means hugging the bull. It is a platform for display of bravery, and prize money was introduced for participation encouragement. Ano