Reuters

Traditional India bullfighting banned

Updated 11.31 Sat Jan 12 2008

Keywords: sport, India, bull, bullfighting, Jallikattu

The India Supreme Court has issued a total ban on 'Jallikattu' - a traditional bullfighting sport played in Tamil Nadu.

Overturning an earlier verdict to continue the game, the Supreme Court said the practice should not continue, citing animal abuse.

Squashing an earlier verdict to continue the game, the Supreme Court said the practice should not continue, citing animal abuse

Known as "taming the bull", the tradition normally takes place during the Pongal harvest festival - and rights groups have long argued it amounts to animal cruelty.

However, the ban has not gone down well with the bullfighters, who have decided to challenge the ruling.

P. Rajasekharan, President of the Bull Fight Association, said: "We will not be deterred by this judgement, we will go for further appeal against the judgement and try to win this case."

The object of Jallikattu is to control the animal long enough to take the prize - a small cloth bag tied between the sharp horns.

The bulls are drugged with steroids and are sometimes made to drink alcohol in order to enrage them preparing for the event.