JALLIKATTU 

Jallikattu (Tamil: ஜல்லிக்கட்டு) or Sallikkattu Tamil: சல்லிக்கட்டு), also known as Eru thazhuvuthal (Tamil: ஏறு தழுவல்) and Manju virattu (Tamil: மஞ்சு விரட்டு), is a traditional sport in which a Bos indicus bull is released into a crowd of people. Multiple human participants attempt to grab and tightly "hug" the large hump of the bull and hang on to it while the bull attempts to escape. Participants hug the hump for as long as possible, attempting to bring the bull to a stop. In some cases, participants must ride long enough to remove flags affixed to the bull's horns. 

Jallikattu is typically practiced in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day

ORIGIN

Ancient Tamil Sangams described the practice as Yeru thazhuvuthal, literally "bull embracing".The modern term Jallikattu is derived from salli (coins) and kattu (package), which refers to a prize of coins that are tied to the bull's horns and that participants attempt to retrieve.^[5] Manju virattu literally means "bull chasing".

HISTORY

Jallikattu has been known to be practiced during the Tamil classical period (400-100 BC). It was common among the ancient people Aayars who lived in the ‘Mullai’ geographical division of the ancient Tamil country.Later, it became a platform for display of bravery and prize money was introduced for participation encouragement. A seal from the Indus Valley Civilization depicting the practice is preserved in the National Museum, New Delhi. A cave painting in white kaolin discovered near Madurai depicting a lone man trying to control a bull is estimated to be about 2,500 years old.

TYPES

• Vadi majuviraṭṭu: This is the most common category, the bull is released from a closed space(Vadi Vasal) and the bull tamer attempts to catch the hump of the bull and hold on to it, in order to win the award. Only one person is allowed to attempt at a time. The variant is most common in the districts of Madurai, Thanjavur, and Salem.
• Vēli viraṭṭu: is a popular variant in the districts of Sivagangai, and Madurai. Here, the approach is slightly different, as the bull is directly released into an open ground. The rule are the same as that of Vadi majuviraṭṭu.
• Vaṭam manjuviraṭṭu: is a game play played with a rope( Tamil: Vatam - Rope). In this variant, the bull is tied to a 50 ft long rope. There are no other restrictions for the bull and hence it can move freely anywhere. The maximum time period given is 30 minutes. A team of 7 to 9 members can attempt to seal the bull.                                                                        
  

RULES

1. The Bull will be released on the the arena through the entry gate called ‘ Vadivasal’.
2. The bull tamer / contestant should try to ‘catch’ the bull by holding onto its hump only.
3. The bull-tamer should hold onto the bull till it crosses the ‘finish’ line. (Usually it is about 50 feet, marked by hanging overhead marker flags along the line.)
4. If the bull throws the tamer off before the line or if no-one manages to hold on to the bull, then the bull will be declared victorious.
5. If the bull-tamer manages to hold on to the hump till it crosses the ‘finish line’, then the bull tamer is declared the winner.
6. Only one bull tamer should hold on to the bull at one time. If more than one bull tamers hold on to the bull, then there is no winner.
7. The bull tamer should ONLY hold on to the hump. He should NOT hold on to the neck or horns or tails of the bull. Such tamers will be disqualifies.
8. No bull tamer will hit or hurt the bull in any manner.

PREPARATION

With the introduction of the Jallikattu Regulation Act - 2009, by the Tamil Nadu legislative, the following activities were done in preparation of the event:

1. A written permission is obtained from the respective collector, thirty days prior to conduct of event along with notification of the event location.
2. The arena and the way through which the bulls pass through is double-barricaded, in order to avoid injuries to the spectators and by-standers who may be permitted to remain within the barricades.
3. The necessary gallery areas are built up along the double barricades.
4. The necessary permissions are obtained from the collector for the participants and the bulls fifteen days prior.
5. Final preparation before the event include a complete testing by the authorities of the Animal Husbandry Department, to ensure that performance enhancement drugs, liquor or other irritants are not used on the bulls.

Source : Wikipedia