Aadhaar a Must to Register for Jallikattu, Says Madurai Collector

Jalikattu is expected to be held in Tamil Nadu from 14 to 16 January, during the harvest festival of Pongal.

A man participating in the traditional Jallikattu festival of Tamil Nadu.

(Photo: PTI)

The Madurai district Collector on Thursday, 11 January, has reportedly asked people to produce their Aadhaar cards when registering for bull-taming sport Jallikattu.

The annual game is expected to be held in various parts of Tamil Nadu from 14 to 16 January, during the harvest festival of Pongal.

While it is a regular practice to ask both the bull owners and the players to furnish a photo identity card, this is the first time that Aadhaar is being made mandatory.

According to India Today, the government has said that all bull tamers or bull owners who want to participate in Jallikattu in Avaniyapuram, Alanganallur, and Palamedu have to produce their Aadhaar cards.

However, some villagers have reportedly raised an issue saying they were not given enough notice about the requirement, with just three days to go for the event.

(This is a developing story)