Running with the bulls
During the Pongal festival in January 2021, when people were still taking tentative steps into large gatherings, I had the opportunity to spend a day witnessing the festivities at a village in Krishnagiri in Tamilnadu. It was the occasion of ‘maattu pongal’, the most important of the festive days for the villagers. People decorated their cattle and offered the ‘padayal’ to the sun god. The day ended with the much anticipated ‘maadu ottam’ or a bull-run. The event was witnessed by hundreds of onlookers from nearby villages all along the main street, with many perched precariously on top of buildings and tractors. Unlike 'jallikattu', where only specially trained bulls are made to compete, in this 'maadu ottam’ event, bulls used in farming too, joined the run along with a few trained ones. Youngsters ran along trying to tame the bulls in an event that was not without its risks along with the rewards.
'Padayal' or the offering. Every dish made with grains, fruits and vegetables from the most recent harvest is offered to the sun god.
Women try bangles with a street vendor's.
Women assemble on the terrace to witness the bulls run.
There is anticipation in the crowds as the first bull is released to run.
Bulls used in farming households too run along with specially trained bulls that take part in such competitions.
There are prizes for those who try and get hold of the bull and slow it down.
There is inherent risk in even being a spectator at such runs, as the bulls, often unaccustomed to the head gears, can run into spectators.
Spectators watching from atop a tractor along the main street.
A bull runs into a narrow space behind the spectators. While village level runs are less aggressive compared to competitive jallikattu events elsewhere, bulls can run in unexpected directions putting at risk even spectators standing afar. There are hardly any safety measures employed in village runs.
Spectators watch from rooftops all along the main street in Marandapalli village. In other parts of the state, there were newspaper reports of buildings collapsing due to weight of huge crowds.
Unlike regular cattle, trained bulls often carry elaborate head gear that is worth many thousands of rupees which the winner can lay hands on. A bull's value and worth increases with every successive run that it completes without being captured.