Tamil Nadu grants permission to hold Jallikattu event with certain restrictions, check SOPs
The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday granted permission to hold Jallikattu event but with certain restrictions even as the pandemic rages on. The government in its guideline said that the number of players taking part in the event should not to be more than 150. It will be mandatory for the players to provide Covid-19 negative certificate. In addition, the number of spectators not to be more than 50% of the gathering.
Usually, thousands of youths take part and try to control bulls but this time the participants will be limited. “While in Jallikattu and Manjuvirattu (another type of bull sport), 300 participants will be allowed to take part, in Eruthuvarattu only 150 will be allowed to participate,” the statement read.
“All these sports must be held only in open grounds and 50% of the total capacity of visitors alone will be allowed to watch the sport. All visitors will be checked with thermal scanners, must wear masks compulsorily and follow physical distancing,” it added.
Guidelines issue by Tamil Nadu govt ahead of Jallikattu event:
- COVID-19 negative certificate mandatory for bull owners and tamers
- Face masks compulsory for all
- Only 50 percent of the total capacity of spectators shall be allowed to assemble in open arenas
- Not more than 300 bull tamers shall be allowed for an event
- All visitors will be checked with thermal scanners, must wear masks compulsorily and follow physical distancing
Jallikkattu, a traditional bull taming sport in the state, is conducted during the Pongal festival. However, the sport had faced a ban after protests by the Animal Welfare Board of India and animal rights organisation Peta. Following widespread protests in the state in 2016, the Tamil Nadu government passed an ordinance, which, with Centre’s approval, allowed it to resume since 2017.
Meanwhile, The Tamil Nadu government has banned New Year revelries on beaches, hotels, clubs and resorts on the night of December 31 and January 1, 2021 as part of efforts to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. There will be no entry to the beaches on these days, and no midnight revelries would be allowed on beach roads, restaurants, hotels, clubs, resorts including beach resorts, and similar places on New years eve and the following day, according to an official statement.
