Trichy district witnessed its first-ever jallikattu competition on Friday. The event took place at the newly constructed permanent arena in Periya Suriyur village. This marked a significant moment for the region's traditional bull-taming sport.
A Grand Inauguration and Massive Participation
District Collector V Saravanan formally inaugurated the competition. The newly built arena, which cost approximately ₹3 crore, served as the venue. Organizers reported impressive participation numbers for this inaugural event.
A total of 712 bulls were registered for the competition. Officials cleared 668 of these animals for participation. The bulls were released in seven distinct batches from the vaadivasal, the traditional entry point.
All 334 registered bull tamers from across the region actively participated in the event. The competition commenced around 8:00 AM and continued until approximately 5:30 PM.
Prize Winners and Distinguished Guests
Moorthi, a resident of Periya Suriyur village, emerged as the champion. He successfully tamed twelve bulls during the competition. His remarkable performance earned him the first prize—a brand new car.
Yogendran and Karthik, both hailing from Pudukottai district, secured second and third places respectively. Yogendran tamed eleven bulls while Karthik managed seven. Both winners received electric bikes as their prizes.
Several dignitaries attended the event as special guests. School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi graced the occasion. AIADMK MLA C Vijaya Baskar and BJP State General Secretary Karuppu Muruganantham were among the notable visitors.
Injury Report and Safety Measures
Police authorities confirmed that sixty-four people sustained injuries during the competition. The injured included thirteen bull tamers. Three tamers required referral for advanced medical treatment while ten received outpatient care.
Twenty-six bull owners also suffered injuries during the event. Five owners needed referral for advanced treatment and twenty-one were treated as outpatients. Additionally, twenty-three spectators sustained injuries—two required referral while twenty-one received outpatient treatment.
A policeman and a home guard member received minor injuries during the event. Both were treated as outpatients. Authorities confirmed that no staff members or bulls suffered any injuries during the competition.
The New Permanent Arena
The newly constructed permanent jallikattu arena represents a significant upgrade for the village. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inaugurated the facility on Thursday. He had originally laid the foundation stone for the arena last year.
This permanent structure fulfills a long-standing demand from Suriyur residents. Previously, the village conducted jallikattu events on temporary grounds. The new arena specifically reflects Tamil culture and heritage in its design.
During his address, Udhayanidhi Stalin shared a personal connection to the event. He revealed that School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi had gifted him a bull. The Deputy Chief Minister named the animal Suriyur in honor of the host village.
