A Multidisciplinary Approach to Understanding Jallikattu, AY 2020-21

Jallikattu is a traditional sport of Tamil Nadu, India that entails men chasing a bull to fetch a pocket of coins from behind its horns. It was first banned by the Supreme Court in 2014. The banning of the sport, coupled with other accompanying reasons, led to the breakout of protests across the state in 2017. This report provides a cohesive presentation of the various aspects of the sport, including its historical, cultural, political, and legal viewpoints. It also looks at Jallikattu’s media representation to understand how the Tamil youth were mobilized for the protests. This report additionally views Jallikattu from an ethical lens, a gap in existing literature. Moreover, an overall analysis of the sport is conducted to gauge a collective understanding.