P. Sarojini
Chennai, India (CWBN)_ The traditional bull-taming sport Jallikattu has been permitted to be conducted in the state by the Tamil Nadu government with strict restrictions that includes following a set of standard operating procedures in order to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Jallikattu is a sport of Tamil Nadu which is played mainly during the Pongal festival.
Some of the safety guidelines put in place by the state government during the Jallikattu event are listed here. For an event, only 300 bull tamers will be approved. In Yeruthu Vidum incidents, only 150 tamers shall be permitted. Only 50% of the overall seating capacity is permitted to gather in open arenas. Thermal screening should be carried out on all audiences. Bull owners and tamers and participants should provide a negative COVID-19 certificate. For all who gather in the place, face masks are mandatory.
Jallikattu was prohibited by the Supreme Court (SC) in 2014 following a petition filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). But after a huge outcry and massive protest from the Tamil Nadu people, the state government demanded that the sport was an essential part of Tamil culture and tradition. Following this uproar, the ban was later lifted in January 2017. Jallikattu has received considerable criticism from many animal welfare organizations in the past, accusing it of animal cruelty.
