Collector M. Aruna inspects the arrangements being made at Thatchankurichi village in Pudukottai on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Thatchankurichi village in Pudukottai district is all set to organise the first jallikattu in Tamil Nadu this year too.
The State government issued a notification on Wednesday, permitting the bull taming event to take place at Thatchankurichi in Gandharvakottai taluk on January 3. It has been a customary practice of the residents of the village to organise the event in the first week of January.
The organisers have already begun the preparatory arrangements, aimed at attracting jallikattu bulls from Pudukottai and other districts, for the event. Installation of barricades in the bull run area, construction of stage and other works are under way at the venue.
Pudukottai Collector M. Aruna on Wednesday inspected the bull holding area, ‘vaadivasal’ from where the participating bulls would be released one after the other, the stage where important members would be seated to witness the event and the designated place for parking of vehicles., among others
Ms. Aruna told The Hindu on Wednesday that officials and the event organisers had been told to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the State government for conducting jallikattu in 2026. The comprehensive SOP clearly spelt out the duties and responsibilities of the district administration, revenue, animal husbandry, health, public works, police and fire and rescue services departments besides those of the organising committees, bull owners and the tamers.
Ms. Aruna said veterinary teams to examine the health condition of the bulls brought for the event and provide treatment to the injured animals and the health department teams to screen the health condition of the tamers and provide first aid in a makeshift place to the injured tamers / visitors would be deployed at the venue.
An animal ambulance would be positioned at the spot. Ambulances to shift injured persons requiring higher medical attention in hospitals would also be deployed at the venue. The bull run area would be double barricaded to prevent onlookers from entering the arena. About 600 bulls are expected to be brought for the event, Ms. Aruna said.
Police sources said a bandobust scheme would be readied ahead of the event for deployment of police personnel at various spots at the venue.
Published – December 31, 2025 08:22 pm IST
