Bull Run: Rangampeta ‘Jallikattu’ a big attraction
Tirupati:A large crowd and enthusiastic participants took part in the bull-taming game held at Arepalle Rangampeta village in Tirupati district during the Kanuma festival, on the third day of Sankranti celebrations.
A local version of Tamil Nadu’s famous Jallikattu, the Rangampeta event combines cultural pride with spirited competition, making it a major attraction for locals and visitors. Thousands of people gathered on Wednesday to watch the spectacle, including participants from nearby villages and even from states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana. The narrow streets of Rangampeta were packed with spectators and participants, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.
Unlike Jallikattu of Tamil Nadu, where participants directly grapple with the bulls by holding their humps and running with them, the Rangampeta version involves a slightly different format.
The bulls are decorated with decorative objects and wooden frames are tied to their horns, some of which contain small gold or silver objects.
Then these bulls are released in the streets of the village. Participants compete to hold onto planks in an attempt to tame the bulls, often resulting in risk of injury. In this year’s event, around 50-60 bulls were released from the cattle sheds into the narrow streets of the village.
As the bulls moved forward, excited participants tried to catch them and claim the prizes given by the organisers, which also included monetary prizes. Despite the risks, the enthusiasm of the youth did not diminish, even as many suffered minor injuries.
Animal rights activists expressed outrage over the alleged mistreatment of the bulls. There were reports of bulls being force-fed country liquor and ganja-mixed jaggery to provoke aggression, which activists claimed could cause permanent harm to the animals. Despite awareness campaigns, such practices continue, drawing sharp criticism for endangering both the animals and the participants.
The program also highlighted political and social undercurrents. Flags of political parties including TDP, Jana Sena, BJP and YSRCP as well as photographs of film stars and leaders were prominently displayed on placards tied to the horns of bulls, adding a layer of political symbolism to the festival. Chandragiri police, under pressure from political influences and concerned about possible communal unrest, reportedly refrained from taking strict action against the incident, even though injuries and brawls are recurring issues. In 2020, more than 20 participants were seriously injured, and this year, more than 10 people suffered serious injuries.
