MADURAI: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday flagged off the jallikattu event at the Manjamalai Riverbed in Palalmedu, near Madurai.
The bull-taming sport reached a fever pitch in Madurai as the second of the three major Pongal events was held at Palamedu, following a high-stakes opening at Avaniyapuram.
According to officials, over 1,000 bulls and nearly 500 tamers were participating in today's event.
A massive deployment of over 2,000 police personnel is managing the crowd, said police sources.
The top tamer and the owner of the best bull are set to win a car and a tractor, respectively, sponsored by the DMK leadership. as it was done in Avaniyapuram on Friday.
The grand finale of jallikattu will be held at Alanganallur on January 17 and will be inaugurated by Chief Minister MK Stalin.
As part of preparations for the event, 'Vaadivasal' (entry point) has been reinforced, and special galleries have been put up to accommodate a significant number of international tourists.
Popular actor Soori, a native of the Madurai region, added a touch of star power to Friday's event by dropping in for a while shortly after it began.
The actor expressed deep emotional ties to the traditional bull-taming sport, describing it as an essential marker of Tamil identity.
When asked how it felt to witness the event, a visibly proud Soori stated that participating in and witnessing the sport was a matter of immense honour.
"I see this as a great pride. I feel very proud to be part of an identity given to us by our ancestors — one that is deeply rooted in our soil and our heritage," Soori said.
The actor also lauded the smooth conduct of the high-stakes event. "The arrangements are very good. It has been done excellently," he added.
Soori's presence at the Vaadivasal served as a highlight for the thousands of fans gathered at the Manjamalai riverbed, reinforcing the sport's status as a cultural cornerstone that transcends the silver screen.