Hockey players get a whiff of Tamil culture, tradition

Teams and officials participating in the FIH Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup, 2025, currently under way in Madurai, got a whiff of the Tamil culture and tradition on Friday. They witnessed the jallikattu in action at the Kalaignar Centenary Jallikattu Arena in Keelakarai near Alanganallur.

Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P. Moorthy welcomed the hockey players at the arena. The hockey players from Canada, Namibia, Egypt, Austria, China, Bangladesh, South Korea, Oman and the officials were dressed in traditional shirts, dhotis and angavastrams.

Following a group photograph of the national teams at the entrance of the stadium, in front of the Eru Thazhuvuthal statue, the players were taken inside the gallery for the jallikattu event. They were seen clicking pictures enthusiastically from the gallery as the bull tamers tried to tame the raging bulls released from the Vaadivasal.

Over 100 bulls were released and 50 bull tamers participated in the event which went on for about two hours. The winners and the participants were felicitated. It turned out to be a unique and unforgettable experience for the hockey players. Arrangements were also made for English commentary of the traditional sport for the benefit of the foreign players.

They were taken around the Jallikattu Museum inside the stadium that housed photographs, sculptures, drawings and paintings on jallikattu. They were then treated to a sumptuous meal comprising traditional vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies from the Madurai region. Sholavandan MLA A. Venkatesan, Madurai Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan, Superintendent of Police B.K. Arvind and other officials were present.