Days after deadly clashes over the conduct of Erudhu Aatam (bull chase), Niekirapatti was lit up with festivities on Wednesday, with villagers sacrificing a 1,000 cocks at the Mungakuthu Munippan temple, the place where the traditional sport was to be held.
However, Wednesday’s rituals were not meant to make amends for the failed Erudhu Aaatam, villagers claimed. They said they were just following the usual practice of offering sacrifices to the same deity seven days after the main rituals.
An uneasy calm prevailed in the village in the wake of the violence which broke out when officials clamped down on the conduct of Erudhu Aatam. While the officials claimed that the sport required permission to be conducted, the villagers said that only ‘jallikattu’ was banned and not Erudhu Aaatam. As many as 79 villagers were remanded in connection with the clashes. Several policemen were also injured.
While police continued to camp in the village, leaders of several political parties including the CPI (ML), PMK and other outfits visited Neikirapatti on a ‘fact-finding’ mission. They also demanded the release of the arrested persons.
It was against this background that the rituals were started at the temple, at 7 am on Wednesday. The rituals went on through the day and around a half-an-hour past noon, special pujas were performed during which a 1,000 cocks were reportedly sacrificed. Pigs and goats were also sacrificed in a huge gathering, which witnessed the participation of residents from 18 villages.
While the heightened security in the village was withdrawn following appeals from several political leaders, a small contingent of police was posted in view of the special puja that was held on Wednesday.
It was not a happy occasion for them as many were in jail, the villagers said. The hearing on the bail plea of the arrested persons was expected to come up on Thursday.