India / TN govt allows Jallikattu events, number of players can't exceed 300

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has granted permission to hold Jallikattu event with certain restrictions amid the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. According to the guidelines issued by the Tamil government, number of players cannot be more than 150 at an event and COVID-19 negative certificate has been made mandatory for all players. Further, the number of spectators cannot be more than 50 per cent of the gathering.

Check here guidelines issued by state government:

1) Bull tamers: Not more than 300 allowed at an event

2) Tamers: The limit on tamers has been capped at 150 in Yeruthu Vidum events.

3) Thermal scanning is a must for all spectators, said a report by India Today

4) A coronavirus test is compulsory for bull owners as well as tamers

5) Face masks will be compulsory for everyone

Notably, the nod by the Tamil Nadu government comes at a time when Coronavirus cases have been rising in the state. On Tuesday, the state had reported 1,052 new COVID-19 cases taking the tally to 8,09,014 and the death toll touched 12,012 with 17 more fatalities.

The traditional bull-taming sport was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014 after a plea was filed by the Animal Welfare Board of India and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The state government continued to insist that Jallikattu is a crucial part of its culture and identity of the state and hence the sport should continue. Later, the top court ban was lifted in January 2017 with an amendment to the law.