The newly constructed Kalaignar Centenary Jallikattu Akhara is hosting its first competition.

Madurai: The newly constructed Kalaignar Centenary Jallikattu Arena hosted its first Jallikattu competition at Keelakarai near Alanganallur in district on Wednesday. Drone visuals of the Jallikattu event at the newly constructed Jallikattu arena show competitors attempting to hold the hump of a bull in an attempt to tame the animal. The event began soon after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin flagged off the Jallikattu event at the newly constructed grounds in Madurai district.

The stadium is named after former CM and late DMK leader M. Karunanidhi. “Jallikattu Akhara, a traditional sport of Tamils, has been built by the DMK government in Madurai. The inauguration of this Jallikattu Akhara during the Karunanidhi Centenary is an additional special feature. I am proud to have my name in history as Stalin, who built the Jallikattu stadium,” said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Earlier, Madurai District Collector Sangeetha and Corporation Commissioner inspected the newly constructed Kalaigar Centenary Jallikattu Akhara.
“We have made all arrangements to organize Jallikattu. Barricading has been installed to ensure that the bulls playing in the playground and the spectators are also safe. “500 bulls and 300 bull tamers will participate and 2,000 police will be deployed for security,” the collector said.

Jallikattu is an age-old event mostly celebrated as part of the Pongal festival in the state of Tamil Nadu. In the game, a bull is released into a crowd of people and participants in the event try to grab the large hump on the bull’s back, attempting to stop the bull.