Alagumalai ‘Jallikattu’ in Tiruppur to be skipped this year

The only ‘jallikattu’ in Tiruppur district at Alagumalai village will not be held this year, according to the organising entity.

The Alagumalai Jallikattu Kaalaigal Nala Sangam, which has been conducting the event since 2018 has expressed reluctance to conduct the event this year, in view of the impending elections to the State Assembly, as also factoring in the on-going agricultural activities.

Since the venue of the Jallikattu had been a bone of contention between the Alagumalai village panchayat and the organisers, last year, Sangam had secured the permission of the district administration to conduct the event during February on an expanse of eight-acre, fallow, patta land belonging to the president of the Sangam S. Palanisamy.

During 2023, the event got delayed as the president of the Alagumalai village panchayat had moved the High Court opposing the conduct of the event, citing contravention of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Jallikattu) Rules, 2017.

The event was eventually conducted due to the overwhelming support of the public. The Tiruppur Yeruthazhuvudhal Jalllikattu Peravai and the public in the surrounding Masanallampalayam and Thonguttipalayam villages where native cattle species were bred in droves had been insisting on the conduct of the event.

Approvals from the government departments have always not been prompt, Mr. Palanisamy said, adding: “While the bull-rearers and tamers could be brought in at short notice, securing the approval in time has been an ordeal,” Mr. Palanisamy said.

Though this time, the event will be skipped in view of the forthcoming elections to State Assembly, the general line of thinking of the Sangam functionaries is that the event could be conducted every alternate year, Mr. Palanisamy said.