A bull fighter seen with a raging bull in the jallikattu event in Alanganallur near Madurai on January 17, 2026.
| Photo Credit: G. Moorthy
The world- famous Alanganallur jallikattu began on a high with bulls and bull tamers vying with one another at a packed gallery with foreign tourists and general public viewing the sports on Saturday (January 17, 2026).
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is expected to witness the jallikattu in Alanganallur in a short while from now. The TN Registration and Commercial Taxes Minister P. Moorthy flagged off the event in the presence of Madurai District Collector K J Praveen Kumar.
This year, the winner would walk home with a brand new swanky car as first prize, to be given in the name of the Chief Minister, while the runner up would be given a two-wheeler and the third prize would be a e-bike. The owner of the best performing bull would be presented with a tractor, the organisers said.
In Pictures: Bravehearts in pursuit of raging ‘jallikattu’ bulls
The spirit of the traditional bull taming sport came to the fore at the renowned Jallikattu event at Alanganallur on January 17, 2026 with scores of ferocious bulls freezing the tamers by displaying their might.
As many as 465 tamers are participating in the final event for the Pongal 2026 season at Alanganallur, where nearly 825 bulls will be unleashed from the ‘Vaadi Vaasal’ (entry point) into the arena.
Young tamers jostle to get a hold of a bull released from the ‘vaadivaasal’ at Thatchankurichi village in Pudukkottai district on January 3, 2026.
A participant attempts to tame a decorated bull during the ‘jallikattu’ at Avaniapuram in Madurai district on January 15, 2026. The event that began at 7 a.m. went on for nearly 12 hours as it concluded around 7 p.m.
As a bull springs up in air, young participants try to tame it during the ‘jallikattu’ at held at Periya Suriyur in Tiruchi district on January 16, 2026
A group of young tamers compete to get hold of a bull that charges through the crow at Avaniapuram in Madurai on January 15, 2026.
Giving a tough time to the participants, a bull knocks one of the tamers on the ground in a bid to escape from their hold during the jallikattu at Palamedu in Madurai district on January 16, 2026.
Tamers try to scale the makeshift gallery when a ‘jallikattu’ bull that was unleashed from ‘vaadivaasal’ turns back waiting to charge at them at Avaniapuram village in Madurai on January 15, 2026.
A scene during the ‘jallikattu’ conducted at Thatchankurichi village in Pudukkottai on January 3, 2026
A ferocious bull charges at the tamers in Palamedu of Madurai district on January 16, 2026.
A raging bull charges out of ‘vaadivaasal’ at Thatchankurichi in Pudukottai district on January 3, 2026
Tamers unite in their efforts to take a jallikattu that is unleashed out of the ‘vaadivasal’ at Palamedu in Madurai district on January 16, 2026.
The newly-constructed permanent ‘jallikattu’ arena at Suriyur village hosted Tiruchi district’s first bull-taming event this year, on January 16, 2025 following inauguration by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin the previous day.
A scene at Avaniapuram jallikattu in Madurai on January 15, 2026. The event was largely free of adverse incidents, though nearly 60 people including bull-tamers and spectators sustained minor injuries.
Sensing danger, all the tamers climb up the makeshift barricades while a bull charges towards them at Palamedu jallikattu on January 16, 2026
A ‘jallikattu’ bull tries to escape from the grip of a tamer who managed to hold its hump at Avaniapuram in Madurai on January 15, 2026
Tamers chase a bull as it charges out of ‘vaadivaasal’ during ‘jallikattu’ at Periya Suriyur in Tiruchi district on January 16, 2026
While the rest of the participants try to move away and climb heights, a brave tamer manages to hold a bull that jumps up in air at Avaniapuram in Madurai on January 15, 2026
As many as 937 bulls and 568 bull-tamers participated in the 12 rounds of the jallikattu event conducted at Avaniapuram in Madurai district on January 15, 2026
A young tamer at play during the traditional bull-taming sport of ‘jallikattu’ conducted at Thatchankurichi village in Pudukottai district on January 3, 2026
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Before the start, the organisers, along with the participants, took a pledge to adhere to the rules and not violate the guidelines to be followed as laid out by the apex court. The members of the Animal Welfare Board of India are present at the venue.
Animal Husbandry department officials have issued tokens to the bull tamers after examining them. Likewise, the bulls too have been subjected to examination, they added.
Published – January 17, 2026 10:37 am IST
