MADURAI: While the day started with protests with closure of shops and holding of hunger strike at Alanganallur and Palamedu against the ban on Jallikattu, the news that the Centre has granted permission for jallikattu this year began to spread like wild fire on Friday and all the people burst out in joy.
“The people are happy and are in a festive mood already. If permission was granted a week earlier, it will be easier for us to carry out the necessary arrangements to hold the sport,” K Sakthi, a resident of Alanganallur, said.
“Though we announced that all shops will be closed on Friday, the shopkeepers started to open their shops after hearing the news that jallikattu will be organised,” he said, adding that though permission was not given earlier, the people began doing the preparatory work for the sport amid protests and demonstrations.
When contacted, vice-chairman of Alanganallur town panchayat R Govindarajan said, “The people are delighted now that Jallikattu is to be held.” Special prayers were also organised at temples in Alanganallur.
Similarly, Palamedu residents also stopped their hunger strike once the news began to reach them that jallikattu ban was lifted and started celebrating.
Thanking Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan for taking steps to conduct the sport, Palamedu resident A Sakthivel said, “The role played by Pon Radhakrishnan is important as the Central government has agreed to conduct Jallikattu. That has saved our traditional and cultural sport. We are not only thankful to him but also planning to invite him to the event.” Sakthivel said the people of Palamedu would vote for the candidate supported by Radhakrishnan in the Assembly elections.
Agreeing to Sakthivel’s opinion, another person R Murugan also thanked Radhakrishnan.
However, the district administration is yet to receive orders regarding the arrangements to be made for the event. “We are yet to receive any order from the government regarding the arrangements required to hold the sport.” The Tourism Department said the number of foreign tourists visiting Madurai during Pongal festival was likely to increase.
While the rekla race organisers in Coimbatore erupted in joy over the Central government decision to revoke ban on jallikattu, the rooster fight organisers in Karur have been keeping their fingers crossed.
A writ petition seeking a court direction for conducting rooster fight is likely to be filed at the Madurai Bench of the High Court on Monday, sources told Express.