Madurai: Thousands of locals and visitors who were eagerly waiting at various vantage points — on rooftops, terraces, tractors, street walls on either side of the sprawling river ground — hoping to witness the jallikattu at Palamedu village on Sunday were disappointed when the police resorted to mild lathi-charge within a few minutes of six temple bulls being let into the arena.
Manjamalai river, named after the goddess Manjamalai, would be used as the traditional arena for jallikattu events in the village. The Vadivasal, located at the river entrance, was built from sand brought from the premises of the Manjamalai temple located on a hillock at Valayapatti village, six kilometers from Palamedu.
The villagers consider Vadivasal as sacred and would offer worship at the spot along with the temple bulls before the animals are let through the Vadivasal.
On Sunday morning, around 5,000 villagers brought the six bulls to Vadivasal from Vinayagar temple. “We are disappointed when the police erected a barricade around the Vadivasal and denied us entry,” the villagers said.
The villagers expressed their anguish by releasing a bull inside the arena within a few minutes of the completion of pooja. The police, who were taken by surprise, couldn’t control the crowd as five other bulls were also released one after another into the ground. The enthusiastic youths chased the bulls in vain.
The police swung into action dispersing the youths who had gathered in various places in the village. They regrouped again and released nearly six more bulls in the village streets. When the police tried to control them, they pelted stones at them causing damage to vehicles parked in the village.
“We can’t allow our tradition to die to promote the business interest of American corporate companies in India. Already the count of native bulls in Palamedu and neighbouring villages have come down from more than 1000 to 200 in number,” said a group of youths.
“Is our Supreme Court saving the interest of Indian people or Americans,” asked Vinod Kumar, M.Sc graduate who along with other youths in the village has decided to boycott beverages manufactured by American MNCs.
The entire village mourned the non-conduct of jallikattu by putting up black flags in their houses and in major streets. All the shops in the village were found closed.
“We refused to take food today. How can you expect us to eat without jallikattu,” asked villager Mariamma (70). Ever since the court stopped jallikattu there has been no rain in the village and people were suffering for drinking water, she added.
Many bull tamers and bull owners observed a protest fast demanding a ban on PETA. Hundreds of youths who were visiting from Chennai also expressed their solidarity with the villagers.
Superintendent of Police, Vijayendra S Bidari clarified that no jallikattu event happened in the village. “Some miscreants let loose temple bulls into the arena, however, we brought the situation under control,” he added. The Madurai collector Veera Raghava Rao also inspected the village.
