Trichy: A total of 13 people, mostly spectators and bull owners, sustained injuries in the first jallikattu of the season in Pudukottai district held at Thatchankurichi on Monday. Health minister C Vijaya Baskar flagged off the event organized by Don Bosco Ilaignar Manram around 8am. Pudukottai conducts the highest number of the traditional bull-taming sport in the state.Bulls and tamers entered the arena after medical examination and the event went on till 2pm. According to police, a total of 453 bulls took part in the event and were tackled by 150 bull tamers who entered the arena in batches. Bulls were brought from Trichy, Madurai, Sivaganga, Theni, Karur and a few other districts to the venue. Bull owners started gathering at the venue from as early as 4 am. Along with the tamers, they took an oath before entering the arena promising to follow norms.“On a few occasions, the event had to be stopped for a few minutes following return of bulls that left the arena,” said a constable from Gandharvakottai police station who was on duty at the venue. Some bulls started attacking the tamers leading to injuries to bull owners and members of the organizing committee handling bulls. Four of the 13 injured were hospitalised for further treatment.Although no prize was announced by the organizers for the successful bull tamers or bull owners, instant cash rewards were given by Vijaya Baskar to some of the bull tamers for displaying exceptional skills in handling the bulls. More than 3,000 people turned up to witness the event. Though the event was planned for January 2 as part of new year celebrations, it had to be postponed following a delay in getting permission from the state government.

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