COIMBATORE: Around 100s of farmers in Coimbatore conducted Rekla Race in Coimbatore- Palakad Road near Ettimadai in the outskirts of the city here on Friday morning, by violating the ban imposed by the Supreme court on Rekla Races and Jallikattu.
According to the members of Rekla Race Committee, farmers in the outskirts of the Coimbatore conduct Rekla Race once a year during the Pongal festival. Due to the ban, the farmers had not organized the event in 2015 and 2016.
However, this year, just a day before Pongal, the farmers in the outskirts gathered to conduct Rekla Race violating the ban.
One of the farmers in the committee, A Udhay Kumar of Navakkarai said, "The event had 200 bulls tied to 100 carts, and the rally began from Ettimadai Pirivu until KG Chavadi. As SC said its 'unfair' to ask order on Jallikattu within two days, we decided to organise Rekla Race breaking the order."
"We are least bothered about the State government or Central government or the police department personnel taking action against us. Farmers from 18 villages including Navakarai, Ettimadai, Malumichampatty have joined hands together to organise Rekla Race violating the ban, "he added.
M Krishna Kumar of Maavorthampatty who began the Rekla Race here said, "It is our tradition and the person driving the cart need not do anything, everything is done by the bull itself."
"Due to my heart condition I am not supposed undergo stress, but I participate in this rally to show my support to this decision," he added.
Around 100 police personnel were deployed in Ettimadai Pirivu in Coimbatore- Palakkad road for security purpose.
In a separate development, more than 20 youngsters of Kodiyalanthoor village of Valivalam Panchayat in Thirukkuvalai Taluk near Nagapattinam participated in Jallikattu on Friday despite the ban imposed on the sport.
The event was jointly organised by Thamizhaga Iyarkai Velan Uzhavar Iyakkam and Cauvery Urimai Meetpukkuzhu. The bull used in the sport was embellished with garlands before it was set loose into the field where nearly 20 youths chased the bull and overpowered it. The event was an informal one and held for a short while. The event organised as to register their discontent over the ban imposed on the sport. They have called out for the youths of Tamil Nadu to conduct Jallikattu across the State to save the age long tradition.
Speaking to the media at the spot, Nel Jeyaraman, one of the organisers said, "With the help of international powers, our native breeds are being targeted. To show our strong opposition against those powers, we conducted Jallikattu here and we urge the youths of Tamil Nadu to conduct the same at their places."