Context: Native people claim that Chittoor’s ‘Jallikattu’ became a victim of ‘misunderstanding and gossip’.
About:
Chittoor has two different harmless versions Jallikattu— Haddula Panduga and Mylara Panduga or Pasuvula Panduga.
These rural sports are still considered as “illegal” in police parlance.
Pasuvula Panduga, is observed on the third day of the Sankranthi festival in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Importance of these sports:
The festival is dedicated to cows, bulls and other animals that are part of agrarian economy.
These annual festivities are responsible for the preservation of the native breeds of cattle and the continuing love for the bulls despite mechanised agriculture practices.
In “Haddula Panduga”, the bulls brought to the race and the participants, mostly youth, would be encouraged to stop the raging bulls by managing the long ropes tied to the animals.
In “Mylara Panduga”, the bull would be released into the set tracks in batches, with their race completing time is calculated, and based on their performance.