Chennai (Tamil Nadu): 'Jallikattu,' the popular bull-taming sport in Tamil Nadu, could be held next month by following the guidelines imposed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government said on Wednesday.
A maximum of 300 participants would only be allowed for Jallikattu and 150 for 'Erudhu Vidum Nigazhchi', another variety of the sport.
The traditional events are held between January and May. In all these events, participants are permitted with a maximum ceiling of 50% of the total capacity of the open spaces. The participants will be allowed only upon thermal screening. The tamers will have to hold a Covid-19 negative certificate from the government testing laboratories to participate in the event.
Spectators shall be subjected to thermal scanning before entry into the open spaces earmarked for the events and they must follow requisite social distancing and wear masks, the government said in an official release.
The participants should necessarily possess a COVID-19 negative certificate from government authorised labs. There are 235 COVID laboratories in Tamil Nadu.
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A detailed Standard Operating Procedure for the conduct of the sport in January 2021 would be issued separately, the government said.
The sport is traditionally held coinciding with 'Pongal', the harvest festival in the Tamil month of 'Thai' in January.
Alanganallur and Palamedu are among the regions in Tamil Nadu that have been hosting the events for ages.
The Supreme Court (SC) in 2014 banned 'Jallikattu' after a plea was filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) but the state government insisted that Jallikattu was a crucial part of its culture and identity. The ban was later lifted in January 2017 with an amendment to the law after massive protests in Chennai.
With input from agencies
