In pictures | Guts, glory, and a death at Madurai’s Avaniapuram jallikkattu

The Avaniapuram jallikkattu event involved 825 bulls and 500 men approximately, with police implementing comprehensive security measures

Madurai, a district in Tamil Nadu known for its significant role in Pongal celebrations, welcomed the festival with enthusiasm. The Pongal festival is remembered for its iconic scenes featuring the Pongal dish, sugarcane, cows, pots, and jallikkattu. The jallikkattu event at Avaniapuram in Madurai on the first day of Pongal festival ended with the death of a bull tamer on January 14, 2025.

The organisers said that B. Naveen Kumar (22) from Vilangudi suffered serious injuries and was declared dead at the city’s Government Rajaji Hospital.

Police personnel, Indian Red Cross Society volunteers, and Animal Husbandry Department officials were deployed and assisted the participants throughout the event. Ambulances and fire engines were deployed, and 16 general physicians and nine specialists from the GRH and district headquarters hospital were on duty. The event involved 825 bulls and 500 men approximately.

The event ended incident-free, with a senior police officer stating it was largely incident-free. 

Karthik, who tamed 19 bulls during the event, bagged the first place. He was awarded a car, a cow and a calf and the second place was bagged by Divakar, who tamed 15 bulls, and was awarded a bike. 

Malaiyandi’s bull stayed on the field for 60 seconds, winning first prize and a tractor, while G.R. Karthik’s bull stayed for 47 seconds and won second prize and a bike.