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Jallikattu 2025: 1,100 Bulls, Truck, Car On Prize List In Tamil Nadu

January 14, 2025, 11:06 am

The globally renowned Jallikattu event commenced in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai on Tuesday, marking the start of a three-day celebration of bull-taming traditions. The first event, held at Avaniyapuram village, featured a thrilling contest with 1,100 bulls and 900 bull-tamers. This cultural extravaganza promises exciting prizes for the winners, including a tractor worth Rs 11 lakh for the best bull and a car worth Rs 8 lakh for the best bull-tamer.

High Stakes and Rigorous Safety Measures

The first day of the Madurai Jallikattu was a spectacle of skill, strength, and tradition. The upcoming events at Palamedu and Alanganallur on January 15 and 16, respectively, are expected to continue the intense competition. To ensure the event runs smoothly and safely, the district administration has put in place strict rules and security measures.

According to the guidelines set by the Madurai district administration, each bull can participate in only one of the three competitions. Moreover, bulls must be accompanied by their owners and a familiar trainer to ensure proper handling during the event. To further streamline the process, all bull-tamers and bull owners must register online via the official district website, madurai.nic.in, where documents are thoroughly verified.

Jallikattu: A Deep-Rooted Tradition in Tamil Nadu

Jallikattu is an ancient and vibrant bull-taming tradition that holds deep significance in Tamil culture, particularly during the festival of Pongal. The event involves the release of a bull into a crowd of people, where participants attempt to grab the bull’s hump and stop its movement. The roots of Jallikattu date back to 400-100 BCE, where the practice was first observed by the Ayar community in Tamil Nadu. The term “Jallikattu” comes from the words “Jalli,” meaning silver and gold coins, and “Kattu,” meaning tied.

Global Recognition and International Participation

Madurai’s Jallikattu events, especially those held in Alanganallur, are recognized internationally as a celebration of Tamil heritage and rural valor. This year’s festival has garnered attention not only from across the country but also from international enthusiasts who recognize the significance of this cultural spectacle. With thousands expected to participate and witness the event, the 2025 Jallikattu competitions in Madurai are set to make an indelible mark on global audiences.

A Record-Setting Year for Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu

Earlier in the week, the first Jallikattu event for 2025 took place at Thachankurichi village in Pudukkottai district, which is renowned for hosting numerous bull-taming events. Between January and May, Pudukkottai typically organizes over 120 Jallikattu events, alongside more than 30 bullock cart races and 50 vadamadu (tethered bull) events. These festivities highlight the state’s rich rural traditions and its deep-rooted connection to bull-taming practices.

As the competition continues across various locations in Tamil Nadu, including the grand finale in Alanganallur, the excitement around Jallikattu is expected to only intensify, showcasing not only the thrill of the sport but also the region’s rich cultural heritage.

BJP candidate K Annamalai holds roadshow in Coimbatore

April 3, 2024, 12:13 pm

Tamil Nadu BJP Chief and Coimbatore Lok Sabha candidate, K Annamalai, launched his election campaign with a roadshow in Madurai, starting from Teppakulam Maidanam. Riding on an open-roofed vehicle, Annamalai kicked off his campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“MK Stalin and DMK are the enemies of Tamil Nadu and the people of the state. Today, it is only the BJP that is in the field and campaigning for the election,” Annamalai said, emphasizing the BJP’s strong presence in the electoral arena.

“June 4 will attest to the fact that Tamil Nadu will come Modiji’s way, that is, in a very big way,” Annamalai earlier stated, expressing his confidence in the BJP’s prospects in Tamil Nadu.

Annamalai, a former Karnataka cadre IPS officer, joined the BJP in 2020 after resigning from the service in 2019. He assumed the role of BJP state president a year later.

The Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu are scheduled for April 19, with all 39 seats going to polls in the first phase. The results, along with those from other phases, will be counted on June 4.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the DMK secured a sweeping victory in Tamil Nadu, winning 23 seats and garnering the majority of the total votes polled at 33.2 per cent. Its ally, the Congress, won 8 seats with 12.9 per cent of the votes. Other parties like CPI, CPI (M), and IUML also secured seats, while two seats went to Independents.

The general elections for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be conducted in seven phases, starting from April 19. Approximately 97 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in this election.

Ravichandran, Ex-Convict in Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case, Opens Bookstore

March 16, 2024, 10:53 am

Ravichandran, previously convicted in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, has begun a fresh journey following his early release after 32 years in prison. He has inaugurated a bookstore and publishing house in Rajakambeeram, close to Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

In an interview with ANI, he expressed that the encouragement from the community motivated his rehabilitation and inspired him to contribute to society.

“I was in jail for 32 years, thinking about how to recover. But the way people welcomed me after my release gave me encouragement and hope. Before the release, Tamil Nadu political leaders and people supported us and I thought that I should do something for society. So I started a publishing called “Kara,” which I hope will help me and the Tamil community. I have written three books while in prison. I am going to write about prison life and cases and some unrecorded data from this case,” he said.

Ravichandran highlighted that certain undisclosed details pertaining to the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case will be revealed in his forthcoming books.

“I have written the book ‘Rajiv Gandhi Assassination’s Top Secret’ to enlighten people about the cases. There is some information that is yet to be revealed. This information is in the Supreme Court order copy. So I am going to write all this in the coming book to inform people,” he added.

In the preceding year, Ravichandran was one of the seven convicts granted early release by the Supreme Court.

During his time in prison, he authored three Tamil books titled “Rajiv Kolai (assassination) Top Secret”, “Oru Kannamoochi Aatam! Eluvar Viduthalaiyum Indiaya Arasamaippum!,” and “Eluvar Viduthalaiya? Oruvar Vidhuthalaiya? Unmaiyum, Urutalum.”
He has now published his fourth book, a collection of poetry titled “Siraimozhi.”

Ravichandran’s resolve to begin anew and follow his writing passion is undeniably motivating. His transition from imprisonment to entrepreneurship underscores the resilience and ingenuity within individuals.

Several injured as barricade collapses in Madurai’s Anna Nagar

September 24, 2023, 2:35 pm

At an event in the Madurai region of Tamil Nadu, a barricade fell, injuring a large number of people.
The event happened at the launch of the “Happy Street” program in Madurai’s Annanagar neighborhood.
Images show individuals attempting to save one another while others tend to their injured loved ones.

As Tamil Nadu Information Technology Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan along with Minister P Moorthy and District Collector M S Sangeetha inaugurated the program, people tried to rush to the front, she said.
“Shortly after, the stage barricade collapsed and injured several people. Some people got suffocated and some were left unconscious in the incident,” she added.

Madurai: Fire breaks out at a bank branch

September 23, 2023, 3:08 pm

Early on Saturday, a fire erupted at a State Bank of India (SBI) branch located in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district, as confirmed by fire department authorities. The fire department promptly reported that they had successfully extinguished the flames.

According to their account, an unexpected fire outbreak occurred around 3 am on Saturday at a State Bank of India (SBI) branch near the Madurai Periyar Bus Stand. The fire was spotted by a police patrol team, who immediately alerted the fire department. The fire brigade swiftly responded to the scene and managed to put out the fire.

Officials stated that the police have initiated an investigation into the incident and have registered a case. We are currently awaiting further details on this matter.

Madurai: Food safety officers raid shawarma shops after girl dies from food poisoning

September 20, 2023, 12:35 pm

A group of food safety inspectors conducted surprise inspections at various shawarma outlets in the Madurai district in response to the tragic death of a young girl, reportedly due to consuming chicken shawarma.

Jayarama Pandian, who serves as a Food Safety Officer in Madurai, stated, “We carried out inspections at 90 establishments, resulting in the confiscation of 70 kilograms of chicken. Additionally, we have ordered the closure of two specific shops.”

Prior to this incident, a minor girl tragically passed away from suspected food poisoning shortly after dining at a restaurant near Paramathi Velur in Namakkal district. Subsequently, her remains were sent to Namakkal Medical College Hospital for a postmortem examination.

As a precautionary measure, the health department authorities have temporarily prohibited the sale of shawarma in hotels throughout Namakkal district.

4 killed as car collides with container truck in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai

July 31, 2023, 10:37 am

An official reported on Monday that a car accident involving a container truck in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, resulted in at least four fatalities.

Madurai District Superintendent of Police (SP) Siva Prasad confirmed and said that four people lost their lives in an accident after a car and a container truck collided near Tirumangalam in the Madurai district. Further details into the matter are awaited.

Madurai Metro Rail Project to submit thorough report to TN Govt on July 15

June 28, 2023, 11:13 am

The Madurai Metro Rail Project Director Arjunan said on tuesday that the project will submit a detailed report on its plan and state of implementation to the Tamil Nadu government on July 15. “The detailed project report is 90 per cent complete. We will file the detailed report on July 15,” the Madurai Metro Rail Project Director Arjunan said. Speaking in detail about the project, Arjunan said, “8,500 crores has been earmarked for the implementation of the metro rail project for a distance of 31 km from Tirumangalam to Madurai Othakkadi. Today, officials are inspecting the possibilities of starting the works.”
On the status of the project, he said, “We have already completed the soil survey and local traffic survey. We are planning an underground station with three entrances to Madurai railway station.”

Madurai: AIADMK to hold state conference this August

April 18, 2023, 5:15 pm

On 20 August, the AIADMK has decided to hold its state conference in Madurai. The first one after Edappadi K. Palaniswami, popularly known as EPS, became the general secretary of the party.

On Sunday, the decision was taken after a resolution was passed at the executive committee of the party held in Chennai. This will also be the first meeting of the AIADMK after EPS became the general secretary of AIADMK, triumphing over the internal battle with O Panneerselvam or OPS.

In the decision of the executive committee, it was said that M G Ramachandran and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had “charted history by holding mega conferences in places like Tirunelveli and Trichy,” and that the Madurai conference will likewise be a “turning point for AIADMK.”

Detractors said that the AIADMK had suffered in Tamil Nadu’s southern districts as a result of the removal of OPS, a southern Tamil native. According to an AIADMK insider, they hope to refute this narrative by having a state convention in Madurai.

Another resolution approved by the executive committee made a passing allusion to OPS and his group. “The party under the leadership of EPS should teach a lesson to traitors who have a clandestine link with DMK,” the resolution reads.

Some resolutions passed in the executive committee criticise DMK and its state government. Those resolutions alleged among other things law and order breakdown in Tamil Nadu under the DMK government, registering false cases against AIADMK workers, DMK not implementing election promises and DMK undermining state assembly conventions.
The State conference also called upon the DMK government to “impress upon the Centre to implement Cauvery – Godavari river link project and Nadanthai Vazhi Cauvery project.”
AIADMK state conference also decided to set up booth committees quickly across the state for strengthening the party at grass root ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

2 drug peddlers held with 951 kg of Ganja in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai

February 16, 2023, 2:09 pm

Madurai police foiled a smuggling bid and seized 951 kg of Contraband (ganja) along with the arrest of two persons during checking in Madurai. Police are on a manhunt to nab the other two accused who fled, officials said on Thursday. The arrested accused have been identified as Prabhakaran and Sentithil Prabhu. While their two partners who managed to escape were identified as Jeyakumar and Ramkumar. A case has been registered. Acting on a tip-off, police conducted an intensive vehicle checking in the Madurai Kochadai check post area.

Bull tamer killed in Madurai

January 16, 2023, 6:48 pm

During a Jallikattu event at Palamedu in Madurai, a bull tamer succumbed to injuries at Madurai’s Rajaji Government Hospital on Monday. Meanwhile, at the event in Avaniyapuram in Madurai district, 60 people were injured, with 20 sustaining serious injuries on Monday. “Yesterday (Sunday), about 60 people were injured during a Jallikattu event. Of them, 20 received serious injuries and were admitted to the Rajaji Hospital. The remaining 40 sustained minor injuries and were administered first aid. There were no casualties,” Madurai District Collector Aneesh Sekhar said.

Madurai: 5 killed in firecracker factory explosion

November 10, 2022, 3:59 pm

An explosion occurred in a private firecracker factory near Usilambatti in Madurai on Thursday in which five people were killed.

The Superintendent of Police of Madurai informed about the incident.

However, more details on the matter are awaited.

Six held after video went viral of miscreants assaulting 50-year-old man in Madurai

November 6, 2022, 11:39 am

A 50-year-old man was assaulted by seven people when he came to pick up his daughter in Madurai Meenal Women College in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai. Six out of the seven people were arrested by Police.

A complaint was registered at Madurai Sellur Police Station, following which the arrests were made. The officials said, “One out of six arrested is a college student.” The police further informed that a group of youngsters were creating a commotion, approaching the Women’s College in an allegedly inebriated condition.

Mohan Raj, Madurai North Deputy commissioner of Police told, “The brawl started over a normal incident. The youngsters assaulted the man after the 50-year-old asked the miscreants to go quietly because a funeral procession was passing by.” “The group of youngsters attacked the man in front of several students in front of the college gate. Pertaining to the matter, a case was registered against seven people at Madurai Sellur Police Station. Six people including one college student have been arrested so far,” the senior police officer said. “We have written a letter to the college principal of the student seeking action against him. We have directed the police to patrol the areas where the girls’ college is located,” Mohan Raj added. Following te incident, Madurai Police has increased the security near all women’s college in the area.

Earlier, On October 30, when a few adolescents allegedly entered the Lady Dok Women’s College in Madurai and harassed the students there, a case was previously opened against 11 people at the Madurai Tallakulam Police Station.

“So far we have arrested 10 people in this case and four two-wheelers have been seized. five out of 10 arrested were college students,” police said in a statement.

BJP Madurai district president P Saravanan announces his resignation

August 14, 2022, 4:23 pm

Bharatiya Janata Party’s Madurai district president P Saravanan announced his resignation on Saturday.

On Saturday night Saravanan met State Finance Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan at his residence and apologized. Saravanan apologized for the action of a BJP worker who hurled a slipper at the Minister’s car.

After the meeting, Saravanan addressed the media and said, “Some untoward incidents took place at Madurai Airport. The incident at the airport affected me deeply. I took of the sharp words of the minister as a personal attack. I quit Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) a year ago and joined but now I don’t like BJP.”

Meanwhile, Saravanan claimed that the BJP was working against the minority people.

“With that in mind, I traveled in the BJP. The attack on the Minister’s car made me feel uneasy. So I met the Finance Minister at midnight today. I met the finance minister and apologized for the incident. It is said that the BJP workers behaved out of control in Madurai airport. The finance minister did not take it seriously when BJP men threw slippers in his car. It is relief to meet him and apologize,” Saravanan said.

Saravanan further said, “Definitely I will not continue in BJP. The hatred and religious politics don’t suit me. I am going to send my resignation letter to BJP in the morning.”

When asking about joining DMK Saravanan said, ‘I have not taken any decision about joining DMK, but there is nothing wrong with joining DMK.”

However, in 2021 Saravanan joined BJP after quitting the DMK.