“Jallikattu is a bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day. Annually, jallikattu is held from January to July, played first in world-famous Palamedu, near Madurai on January 15 followed by “Alanganallur-jallikattu” in Alanganallur, near Madurai on 16 January. There is a specific breed of cattle bred for this purpose known as Jellicut and from the place of a big breeder Pulikulam.

Jallikattu is based on the concept of "flight or fight". All castes participate in the event. The majority of jallikattu bulls belong to the pulikulam breed of cattle. These cattle are reared in huge herds numbering in hundreds with a few cowherds tending to them. These cattle are for all practical comparisons wild, and only experienced cowherds can mingle with them safely. It is from these herds that calves with competent characteristics and body conformation are selected and reared to become jallikattu bulls. Other breeds of cattle that are suitable for jallikattu are the palingu (or naatu) maadu, the umblachery and the malai maadu.

Bull fighting was has been common among the ancient tribes who lived in the “Mullai” geographical division of Tamil Nadu. Later, it became a sport conducted for entertainment and was called “Yeruthu Kattu” in which a fast running bull was corralled with ropes around its neck. In the Naik era, prize money was introduced and the sport became a display of bravery. The term Jallikattu was coined in this era. “Jalli” referred to the silver or gold coins tied to the bulls’ horns. According to legend, in olden days the game was used by women to choose their husbands. Successful “matadors” were chosen as grooms”. – Wikipedia

Participants scramble on for safety as a group of bulls charge towards them during a bull-taming sport called “Jallikattu”, in Alanganallor, about 424 kilometers (264 miles) south of Chennai, India, Thursday, January 16, 2014. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A bull tamer tries to control a bull during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Palamedu, about 575 kilomters (359 miles) south of Chennai, India, Tuesday, January 15, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Participants try to hold on to a bull during a bull-taming sport, called Jallikattu, in Alanganallor, about 424 kilometers (264 miles) south of Chennai, India, Thursday, January 16, 2014. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Bull tamers try to control a bull during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Palamedu, about 575 kilometers (359 miles) south of Chennai, India, Tuesday, January 15, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A bull charges towards bull tamers during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Alanganallur, about 530 kilometers (331 miles) south of Chennai, India, Wednesday, January 16, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Bull tamers try to control a bull during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Alanganallur, about 530 kilometers (331 miles) south of Chennai, India, Wednesday, January 16, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A bull tamer falls while trying to control a bull during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Alanganallur, about 530 kilometers (331 miles) south of Chennai, India, Wednesday, January 16, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Bull tamers try to control a bull during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Palamedu, about 575 kilomters (359 miles) south of Chennai, India, Tuesday, January 15, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A decorated bull tramples on a bull tamer during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Palamedu, about 575 kilomters (359 miles) south of Chennai, India, Tuesday, January 15, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A participant tackles a bull during a bull-taming sport called Jallikattu in Palamedu, about 434 kilometers (269 miles) south of Chennai, India, Wednesday, January 15, 2014. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Bull tamers try to control a bull during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Palamedu, about 575 kilomters (359 miles) south of Chennai, India, Tuesday, January 15, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Bull tamers try to control a bull during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Alanganallur, about 530 kilometers (331 miles) south of Chennai, India, Wednesday, January 16, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A bull charges towards a tamer during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Palamedu, about 575 kilomters (359 miles) south of Chennai, India, Tuesday, January 15, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Participants tackle a bull as it charges towards another during a bull-taming sport called Jallikattu in Palamedu, about 434 kilometers (269 miles) south of Chennai, India, Wednesday, January 15, 2014. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Bull tamers try to control a bull during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Alanganallur, about 530 kilometers (331 miles) south of Chennai, India, Wednesday, January 16, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A bull charges out from an enclosure during the bull-taming sport, called Jallikattu, in Alanganallur, about 530 kilometers (331 miles) south of Chennai, India, Wednesday, January 16, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A bull tries to charge over a participant during a bull-taming sport, called Jallikattu, in Alanganallor, about 424 kilometers (264 miles) south of Chennai, India, Thursday, January 16, 2014. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A bull tamer holds on to the horn of a bull during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Palamedu, about 575 kilomters (359 miles) south of Chennai, India, Tuesday, January 15, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Participants try to hold on to a bull during a bull-taming sport called "Jallikattu," in Alanganallor, about 424 kilometers (264 miles) south of Chennai, India, Thursday, January 16, 2014. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Bull tamers try to control a bull during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Alanganallur, about 530 kilometers (331 miles) south of Chennai, India, Wednesday, January 16, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Participants try to hold on to a bull during a bull-taming sport, called Jallikattu, in Alanganallor, about 424 kilometers (264 miles) south of Chennai, India, Thursday, January 16, 2014. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Bull tamers try to control a bull during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Palamedu, about 575 kilomters (359 miles) south of Chennai, India, Tuesday, January 15, 2013. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A bull tamers holds a bull by the horn during the bull-taming sport called Jallikattu, in Alanganallur, about 530 kilometers (331 miles) south of Chennai, India, Wednesday, January 16, 2013. Jallikattu is an ancient heroic sporting event of the Tamils played during the harvest festival of Pongal. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A participant falls while trying to tackle a bull during a bull-taming sport called Jallikattu in Palamedu, about 434 kilometers (269 miles) south of Chennai, India, Wednesday, January 15, 2014. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

A participant tries to hold on to a bull during a bull-taming sport, called Jallikattu, in Alanganallor, about 424 kilometers (264 miles) south of Chennai, India, Thursday, January 16, 2014. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)

Participants scramble on for safety as a bull charges towards them during a bull-taming sport, called Jallikattu, in Alanganallor, about 424 kilometers (264 miles) south of Chennai, India, Thursday, January 16, 2014. (Photo by Arun Sankar K./AP Photo)