IN PHOTOS | T'is the season of jallikattu, cockfights in South India

Pongal festival was celebrated across Tamil Nadu on Sunday as the day heralded the birth of the auspicious Tamil month 'Thai'. Unfortunately, two persons, including a bull tamer, were killed in separate jallikattu events in the state. In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, two people lost their lives to knife injuries during separate cockfights in Kakinada and East Godavari districts during Sankranti celebrations.

Pongal festival was celebrated across Tamil Nadu on Sunday as the day heralded the birth of the auspicious Tamil month 'Thai'. Unfortunately, two persons, including a bull tamer, were killed in separate jallikattu events in the state. In neighbouring Andh 

At least 75 persons including bull tamers and owners were injured during the Jallikattu--the bull taming sport-- held at Avaniyapuram in the district and another 34 sustained injuries at the event at Palamedu, which concluded Monday. (Photo | K K Sundar, EPS)

A 26-year-old bull tamer while attempting to tame a bull during the Palamedu Jallikattu was gored in the arena on Monday. Aravindhraj was in the lead among the bull tamers. He was in the third position by taming nine bulls by the end of the 4th round. (Photo | K K Sundar, EPS)

The youngster was gored in the arena during the 5th round and was rushed to Madurai GRH for treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries. (Photo | K K Sundar, EPS)

26-year-old bull tamer Aravindharaj. His name figured in the list of tamers who embraced the maximum number of bulls from among nearly 860 bulls that were released from the Vadivasal (entry point) into the arena. He wanted to return home with the coveted Chief Minister's prize--a car but fate had other plans.

A total of 9,699 bulls and 5,399 tamers have registered online for participating in the jallikattu in Avaniyapuram, Palamedu, and Alanganallur in the Madurai district. (Photo | M K Ashok Kumar, EPS)

Bull tamers tame the bulls at the Jallikattu event in Suriyur near Tiruchy. (Photo | M K Ashok Kumar, EPS)

A bull and its handler jump over the fire during the Makara Sankranthi festival at Siddalingapura near Mysuru. (Photo | Udayashankar S, EPS)

A man gives a bath to his cow at Marina Beach on Maattu Pongal, in Chennai. (Photo | R Satish Babu, EPS)

A boy feeds cattle on the festival of Mattu Pongal in a Gaushala at T Nagar, in Chennai. (Photo | R Satish Babu, EPS)

Two people lost their lives to knife injuries during separate cockfights in Kakinada and East Godavari districts on Sunday that were organised to mark the Sankranti celebrations. (Photo I Prasant Madugula, EPS)

Despite the high court order banning cock fights, crores of rupees exchanged hands as cockfights were conducted across NTR, Krishna, Eluru, West Godavari, East Godavari, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, Kakinada, Rajamahendravaram, Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore and other districts across the State allegedly with the backing of political leaders. However, the quantum of the money exchanged is not known. (Photo | EPS)