Bulls to say ‘catch me if you can’ in Kovai

“It will be nothing short of the fanfare in Alanganallur, Palamedu and Avaniyapuram in Madurai or the places in Tiruchy and nearby districts,” said one of the organisers. Apart from the south and central regions of Tamil Nadu, in the western part, jallikattu used to be organised in half-a-dozen pockets in Namakkal, Salem and Krishnagiri districts. The messages of awareness that spread on native breeds during the pro-jallikattu protests and the popularity the sport acquired has enabled it to move beyond the traditional pastures. 

The organisers of the Coimbatore event has zeroed in on the CODISSIA Ground on the Avinashi Road for the grand event. They are planning to make adequate safety arrangements for the bulls, tamers, spectators and road users too. 

“CODISSIA is an open ground and does not have arrangements like a proper vadivasal and safety arrangements for the audience. It is unlike other traditional jallikattu arenas,” said an organiser and added “the road leading to the national highway (Avinashi Road) too need to be blocked, else the bulls will run straight to the road.” 

Coimbatore jallikattu organisers witnessed the jallikattu events in different parts of Madurai last week to make a note of the safety arrangements made there. They have earmarked nearly Rs 60 lakh for the arrangements and exciting prizes are being planned for the tamers and bull owners. 

However, the organisers are doubtful about the date for the conduct of the grand event due to the unexpected political developments in the state. “A couple of weeks ago we had several rounds of discussions with the Tamil Nadu Jallikattu Peravai president P Rajasekhar and meetings with the District Collector of Coimbatore and a few top officials in the police and other departments. We tentatively fixed February 18 as the date for the event,” P Sivaganesh proprietor of Shree Devi Textiles and managing trustee of Velliangiri Goshala, which is home to 1,800 cattle including 209 jallikattu bulls, said.

“We are hopeful of conducting the event well before March or April at the latest. We expect 350 to 400 bulls and as many tamers to participate in the event,” he added. 

D Vikram, one of the organisers said “More than 150 of these bulls will be from the Velliangiri Goshala. Around 50 bulls will participate from Coimbatore, Pollachi, Erode, Udumalpet, Tirupur and Salem. Another 150 bulls will join the event from Madurai and Tiruchy regions.” He added that bull owners and organisers of famous jallikattu events at Alanganallur, Palamedu and Avaniyapuram have assured to bring their bulls for the Coimbatore jallikattu. 

“Nearly 50,000 persons are expected to witness the grand event to held for the first time in this region. If all those who stood by during the protest in this region turn up for the event, the count may very well go above the mark,” said Vikram. “We except the traditional event to be a great crowd puller,” he added.

However, there is a catch. While the bulls and spectators are ready for the spectacle, there are no professional tamers from Coimbatore. “More than 350 tamers from Madurai, Tiruchy and Salem have agreed to exhibit their bravery here,” added Vikram. 

“We are eager to win the hearts of new audience in Coimbatore, who will witness the action between man and bulls for the first time this year,” exclaimed M Raghu, a 28-year-old bull tamer from Madurai.