Jallikattu - Bull fight

It is the season of "Jallikattu" (Bull Fight) in Tamilnadu state of India. It is a brave sport played since centuries. It is similar to that played in South America and not in Spain. The game involves a bull with too may humans trying to take control of it. History says that marriages were fixed on bull fights. The man, who single handedly tamed the bull, claimed the hand in marriage of the girl who groomed the bull. Fortunately, it is not prevalent now.

Some bulls are reared especially for these sport events in villages. The events are so popular that they are gaining commercial supports with sponsorships of many leading Companies. Animal welfare activists wanted to stop this game altogether citing cruelty to animals. The activists had almost succeeded in stopping this game by going to Supreme Court. However, they could succeed only in strict  monitoring of the game by medical professionals, animal welfare activists and neutral observers.

The court wanted to prevent cruelty to animals as well as prevent casualties of human beings. They issued following guidelines.

• The bulls participating in the sport should be registered in advance, certified for their physical fitness by veterinary doctors 
• Animal's horns should not be sharp.
• Using of drugs or steroitds will not be allowed.
• The field should be broad enough to allow four players to tame a bull.
• Only four players could participate at one point of time against one bull.
• The bulls should be released one by one with proper interval.
• Double barricades would be installed to protect spectators.
• A medical team should be kept ready to provide treatment in case of any one getting gored and ambulances also should be kept ready.
• The organizers have to get PWD (Public Works Department) approval for the spectators platform. 
• Organizers have to deposit not less than Rs two lakh (one lakh equals one hundred thousands) as an insurance to cover compensations on medical and death incidents.
• The animal welfare board staff should be accommodated at vantage positions to observe the sport and ensure that bulls were not ill treated.

With these guidelines in force, the bull fights are being played now. Though bulls are superior in strength and stamina, man tries to demonstrate his supremacy by combining his strength and intelligence. When the man wins, the bull is tamed without much harm to it. Unfortunately, when the bull wins, the scene is not as aesthetic. I chicken out when I see gore pictures of intestine exposures, fatal injuries and blood baths. I wonder whether Jallikattu could be enacted like WWF where ferocity and damages are faked. By this comment, please do not conclude that I am a supporter of WWF. I hate it!

This ancient sport survived centuries and is still alive. I am not against this sport, but I want the miseries to both animals and humans are kept to the minimum.