MADURAI: As many as 729 bulls and 697 bull-tamers from different parts of Tamil Nadu participated in the world famous jallikattu at Alanganallur on the outskirts of Madurai on Thursday. Madurai district collector S Natarajan said 29 people suffered injuries during the event that began at 8am and concluded at 4.45pm.There were nine rounds, of which the last one was reserved for the players who embraced at least one bulls in the previous eight rounds, wherein each player could play in only one round.Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam sponsored the bumper prizes -- two cars, one for the best bull-tamer and the other for owner of the best bull.Ranjith, 24, of Avaniyapuram, who tamed 15 bulls, was adjudged the best bull-tamer. He bagged the car sponsored by the deputy CM. Karthik and Ajay who embraced ten and nine bulls bagged the second and third prizes, respectively.A bull belonging to the Paramapatti Chelliamman Temple was adjudged the best bull and bagged the first prize (car) sponsored by the chief minister.Health minister C Vijaya Baskar, who presided over the valedictory function, said that the winners of the cars would receive the keys from the CM and deputy CM in Chennai.TOI photo by S LeninThe event was supposed to conclude at 4pm but was extended thrice till 4.45pm due to repeated requests by the organising committee, tamers, bull owners and the spectators.Though there was no fatality due to bull attacks, the only sad incident of the day was the demise of Periya Gengai, 45, an electrician in Alanganallur. The man took his friend to the gallery to see the event around 8am and fell unconscious. He was rushed to Government Hospital in Madurai, where doctors declared him dead. He has three school-going children.

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