The Jallikattu Protests Have Now Reached Zabeel Park

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The protest is about a sport called ‘Jallikattu’, it is an annual bull-taming festival that takes place in Tamil Nadu, India. The sport has been banned by the supreme court.  The youth of India have come out to support the preservation of a national past-time. Jallikattu has a 5,000 year history and there are cave paintings of the sport that date back to this time. 

There was an attempt by lawyers so that the festival could run this year, but it was rejected by the courts, that angered Tamil Nadu’s population who claim that the ruling is an attempt to drown out the state’s tradition and culture. With Dubai having such a strong Indian population, the protests and spilled over here. It’s expected that the protests will be at the Burj Khalifa tomorrow. 

What is Jallikattu?

An ancient blood sport said to date back to 400 BC, Jallikattu is organised during the mid-January harvest festival, Pongal. It involves releasing a bull into a crowd of people when participants attempt to grab its hump and ride it as long as possible. Sometimes, participants must also try and remove red flags attached to the bull’s horns.

There is evidence of animal cruelty but supportes say that these incidents are isolated

The supreme court in India first ordered the practice of Jallikattu to be banned in 2014

Between 2010 and 2014, an estimated 17 people were killed and 1000-odd were injured during Jallikatu events. However, it continued to some degree for the past two years until this week where.

“Forcing a bull and keeping it in the waiting area for hours and subjecting it to the scorching sun is not for the animal’s well-being. Forcing and pulling the bull by a nose rope into the narrow, closed enclosure or ‘vadi vassal’ (entry point), subjecting it to all forms of torture, fear, pain, and suffering by forcing it to go into the arena and also over-powering it in the arena by bull tamers, are not for the well-being of the animal.”

The Supreme Court of India

Protestors claim that this ban will make the indigenous breed of bull extinct

Supporters claim people don’t understand the role the animals contribute to the support. They say that when Jallikattu is stopped, the animals will be slaughter. 

This flyer explains what is happening

Thousands of young people have come out to Marina Beach in Cheanni in protest

People are sleeping out in protest

There will be a day of hunger strike on Friday the 20th

The protests have reached Dubai

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