Despite the Supreme Court ban and a strong protest from animals rights activists, the Centre on Friday issued a notification allowing popular bull-taming sport Jallikattu in poll-bound Tamil Nadu
Jallikattu, also known Eruthazhuvuthal, is a bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day.
Taking to micro blogging site Twitter, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan said, "Union Minister Prakash Javdekar called me now to give the good news that arrangements to conduct Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu have been made."
Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, bullock cart races in Maharashtra, Kambala in Karnataka and races using bullocks in Punjab have been traditionally and culturally practiced for centuries in the country.
The Supreme Court had banned using bulls for Jallikattu events or bullock-cart races across the country and directed governments and Animal Welfare Board of India to take steps to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals.
The ban on Jallikattu had dampened Pongal festivities in the state, especially in southern districts where it has been a popular event for centuries, and there have been demands for facilitating the event.
