How Thatchankurichi village opened the first Jallikattu of the new year
The Hindu
First jallikattu of Tamil Nadu for the year 2024, held at Thatchankurichi village in Pudkottai district
As the bright sun casts a warm golden hue, I arrive at Thatchankurichi, a quaint hamlet in Pudukottai district, all done up to open the season’s first jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.
Rows upon rows of majestic bulls line the village roads. The animals, adorned with colourful garlands, are their owners’ pride.
Karuppan from Mangadevanpatti village is happy, as his bull ‘Bullet’ has dodged many a daring tamer and won him a chair. The man, who tends to Bullet like his sibling, feeds it rice bran, corn, oil cake, coconuts and cotton seeds. The nutritious diet costs him ₹300 a day. “No one has tamed Bullet in the last two years. With the commencement of the season, I want to take him across the State to compete in more events,” he says.
The aroma of fried snacks wafts through the air, tantalizing the senses. Small food stalls offering a delectable array of traditional delicacies catch my sight. The sizzle of hot oil mingles with scents of crispy vadas, samosas, and piping hot bajjis, creating an irresistible invitation to indulge in the local culinary delights.
Amidst such vibrant chaos, the village was buzzing with excitement. The loud speakers, the voices of young men hustling, and the occasional tinkling of bells tied to the bulls create a symphony of anticipation.
As vibrant fabric pennants flutter in the breeze, adding a festive touch to the village streets, the atmosphere is electric, filled with the palpable energy of participants. Enthusiastic spectators try to catch a glimpse from the terrace of houses around the arena; some even climb onto the barricades to view the sport.
About 54 women entrepreneurs from the UK drive an auto rickshaw from Chennai to Goa for charity, empowering women and children as part of Sisterhood Group UK titled “Let’s Goa 2025 Rickshaw Rally”
Manu Parekh's vibrant memories of Kolkata and artistic journey are showcased in Flower Sutra exhibition at Nature Morte, New Delhi.
Private lunar lander Athena fails mission after sideways landing in moon crater, ending $62 million NASA experiment.
Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln are two of the greatest presidents that the U.S. has seen. You probably know that already. But did you know that Jefferson made what is considered the first contribution to American vertebrate paleontology? Or that Lincoln is the only U.S. president to receive a patent? What’s more, both their contributions have March 10 in common… 52 years apart. A.S.Ganesh hands you the details…
Preprint papers are publicly available scientific papers before peer review, popular among open-access advocates and scrutinizing peer review practices.
Discover the fascinating world of river dolphins in India, facing threats but captivating hearts with their unique features.
L&T, India's largest private defense manufacturer, expands into aerospace industry to capitalize on growing global launch vehicle market.
The BMW C 400 GT: A stylish scooter with premium details, advanced safety features, modern technology, and improved ergonomics has arrived in India
With the rise of the women’s liberation movement in the West, and some parts of China, activists fought for separate rooms, separate bathrooms, separate swimming pools, separate vehicles, separate roads, separate cities, even separate countries
Himmat Shah refused to be part of the mainstream, instead focusing on metamorphosing his medium and materials in the most versatile ways — with a distinctly Indian aesthetic
Celebrate Alexander Graham Bell Day on March 7, honouring the inventor of the first telephone nearly 150 years ago.
SpaceX's Starship spacecraft explodes in space, causing FAA to halt air traffic in Florida, marking second failure this year.
Trump's firing of NOAA employees sparks discussion on climate predictions, highlighting the need for global, high-resolution models for resilience.