The week-long annual process of examining bulls and granting fitness certificates for the traditional sport of jallikattu commenced across Madurai district on Friday. Veterinary doctors are tasked with a thorough inspection to ensure only healthy and eligible animals participate in the upcoming Pongal season events.
Strict Criteria for Bull Qualification
Veterinary officials must verify several key criteria before issuing a certificate. Only bulls belonging to six recognised indigenous breeds are permitted to take part in jallikattu. A veterinarian from the Avaniyapuram veterinary dispensary explained that four of these breeds are widely found, and many local tract breeds have been crossbred with the registered varieties, leading to local standardisation.
Beyond breed, the bulls must meet specific physical standards. Each animal must be over two years of age and stand at least 120 centimetres tall to qualify. The veterinary teams also conduct a detailed health screening to confirm the bulls are free from any injuries or illnesses.
Widespread Certification Process Across the District
The certification drive is extensive, with more than 100 veterinary dispensaries spread across Madurai involved in issuing the mandatory fitness certificates. Once a bull successfully passes all the checks, it receives a certificate that remains valid for one full year, allowing it to be registered for jallikattu events during that period.
Registration for the Pongal jallikattu events will officially open once this week-long inspection process concludes. However, the scrutiny does not end with the certificate.
Final Checks on Event Day
On the actual day of the jallikattu event, all registered bulls will face another rigorous round of inspections. Veterinarians will re-examine the animals for any last-minute illness or injury. Crucially, doping tests will also be administered to ensure no bull has been given performance-enhancing substances.
The veterinarian emphasised the zero-tolerance policy, stating, "If a bull fails in any of the tests, it will be rejected for the event." This two-tiered verification system aims to uphold the safety and integrity of the ancient sport, ensuring it is conducted with the highest regard for animal welfare and tradition.
