Aucklanders gather in support of Jallikattu
A massive peace protest against the ban of Jallikattu took place on January 8 in Tamil Nadu. Organised by a student group, the protest gained a historical momentum. Although there was an agitation on January 23, it was later confirmed by the police and media that it was not caused by the students. A gathering was also initiated by Tamil associations in Auckland on January 22 to show their support for Jallikattu. The latest news reports stated that a government ordinance bill for conducting Jallikattu had been issued.
What is Jallikattu?
Jallikattu, Eru thazhuvuthal and Manju virattu is an ancient Tamil tradition that dates back to 400 BC. It is predominantly followed in in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as an act of protecting the indigenous breeds in the state. This is practised during the harvest festival of Pongal and is a three-day celebration during mid-January. The first day is dedicated to natural resources such as the sun, moon, Earth, fire, and water; the second day to animals, more particularly bulls that are used for ploughing agricultural lands and cows for providing milk for human consumption, and the third day is dedicated to families and friends.
In this ancient traditional sport Jallikattu (jalli means coin and kattu means bag), the indigenous bulls (such as Kangayam) are tamed in a sport ground or an arena. Originally, several native breeds, approximately 88, were used in the sport but now there are only six breeds, as the rest have become extinct. Multiple sportsmen take part in this sport, which is marked as an act of bravery. Men hold on tight to the hump of the bull for as long as possible or until the bull stops. Often the owner of the bulls tie presents to the horns of the bulls that the sportsmen retrieve as victory prizes by taming the bull for so long or until the finish line. There are several literatures, inscriptions, and paintings found in the Tamil Nadu Government Museum and National Museum, New Delhi, about this ancient sport.
This sport comes with several rules and regulations, including no cruelty to bulls and that participants to hold only the hump and not the neck, horns, or tail. The arena has a start and an end-point and after the bull is released from the gate, only one participant is allowed to tame it. If the participant touches the finish line while managing to continue taming the bull, he is declared the winner, and if participants fail to succeed, the bull is declared the winner.
How does it help in breeding?
The bulls that fare well in Jallikattu are in constant demand for servicing the cows. Now the question is why can't breeders breed these native bulls irrespective of jallikattu? To understand that, we will have to understand the chronology of events that lead to Jallikattu and events that happen thereafter.
During the sport, the strongest bulls in Jallikattu are identified and mated with cows. Theses bulls used for mating need to be virile. During the mating season (which is typically after Pongal), these bulls need to secrete the necessary male hormones and experience an adrenaline rush. This is where Jallikattu comes into the picture.
From the time the bull is released from the Vaadi Vaasal (the arena gate) to the time it manages to reach the other end, it experiences a great adrenaline rush, which boosts its testosterone levels and makes its heart beat faster. This increases their virility—one of the most fundamental necessities for selective breeding. As artificial insemination is not adapted for native breeds, a ban on Jallikattu will lead to the extinction of these native breeds. The male calves, which are useless unless there is demand for tasks such as ploughing are slaughtered, however, by observing Jallikattu, their lives can be saved.
Acknowledgements:
Tamil youths, students of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Tamil Nadu, India and people who contributed to Wikipedia.
Dr Ala Mohan is a micro-molecular biologist at the New Zealand Institute of Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland.
A massive peace protest against the ban of Jallikattu took place on January 8 in Tamil Nadu. Organised by a student group, the protest gained a historical momentum. Although there was an agitation on January 23, it was later confirmed by the police and media that it was not caused by the students....
A massive peace protest against the ban of Jallikattu took place on January 8 in Tamil Nadu. Organised by a student group, the protest gained a historical momentum. Although there was an agitation on January 23, it was later confirmed by the police and media that it was not caused by the students. A gathering was also initiated by Tamil associations in Auckland on January 22 to show their support for Jallikattu. The latest news reports stated that a government ordinance bill for conducting Jallikattu had been issued.
What is Jallikattu?
Jallikattu, Eru thazhuvuthal and Manju virattu is an ancient Tamil tradition that dates back to 400 BC. It is predominantly followed in in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as an act of protecting the indigenous breeds in the state. This is practised during the harvest festival of Pongal and is a three-day celebration during mid-January. The first day is dedicated to natural resources such as the sun, moon, Earth, fire, and water; the second day to animals, more particularly bulls that are used for ploughing agricultural lands and cows for providing milk for human consumption, and the third day is dedicated to families and friends.
In this ancient traditional sport Jallikattu (jalli means coin and kattu means bag), the indigenous bulls (such as Kangayam) are tamed in a sport ground or an arena. Originally, several native breeds, approximately 88, were used in the sport but now there are only six breeds, as the rest have become extinct. Multiple sportsmen take part in this sport, which is marked as an act of bravery. Men hold on tight to the hump of the bull for as long as possible or until the bull stops. Often the owner of the bulls tie presents to the horns of the bulls that the sportsmen retrieve as victory prizes by taming the bull for so long or until the finish line. There are several literatures, inscriptions, and paintings found in the Tamil Nadu Government Museum and National Museum, New Delhi, about this ancient sport.
This sport comes with several rules and regulations, including no cruelty to bulls and that participants to hold only the hump and not the neck, horns, or tail. The arena has a start and an end-point and after the bull is released from the gate, only one participant is allowed to tame it. If the participant touches the finish line while managing to continue taming the bull, he is declared the winner, and if participants fail to succeed, the bull is declared the winner.
How does it help in breeding?
The bulls that fare well in Jallikattu are in constant demand for servicing the cows. Now the question is why can't breeders breed these native bulls irrespective of jallikattu? To understand that, we will have to understand the chronology of events that lead to Jallikattu and events that happen thereafter.
During the sport, the strongest bulls in Jallikattu are identified and mated with cows. Theses bulls used for mating need to be virile. During the mating season (which is typically after Pongal), these bulls need to secrete the necessary male hormones and experience an adrenaline rush. This is where Jallikattu comes into the picture.
From the time the bull is released from the Vaadi Vaasal (the arena gate) to the time it manages to reach the other end, it experiences a great adrenaline rush, which boosts its testosterone levels and makes its heart beat faster. This increases their virility—one of the most fundamental necessities for selective breeding. As artificial insemination is not adapted for native breeds, a ban on Jallikattu will lead to the extinction of these native breeds. The male calves, which are useless unless there is demand for tasks such as ploughing are slaughtered, however, by observing Jallikattu, their lives can be saved.
Acknowledgements:
Tamil youths, students of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Tamil Nadu, India and people who contributed to Wikipedia.
Dr Ala Mohan is a micro-molecular biologist at the New Zealand Institute of Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland.
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