It was another historic moment for the Tamils separated by the Palk Straits when Sri Lankan provincial minister Senthil Thondaman won a Maruti Swift car and a native cow – both bonanza prizes – for the best bull in the internationally famous Alanganallur Jallikattu.

Tamil Nadu’ Alanganallur was the first epicentre for the ‘Tamil Spring’ which brought Jallikattu back among the people. Locals had first gathered at this village to demand restoration of Jallikattu, which hadn’t been held for the past two years. 

On Friday, they organised a grand show with DMK working president M.K. Stalin participating while VIPs, film personalities and social activists cheered both the bull tamers and owners.

Nearly 50,000 spectators gathered from various parts of the state to watch the bulls passing through Vadi Vasal and taking on tamers in the arena from 8.15 am. 

As many as 549 bulls and 1,050 bull tamers participated in the event and many of them went home with a handful of gifts.

The much-awaited jallikattu was held amid tight security in Alanganallur, famous for the bull-taming sport, which left 47 sportsmen injured.

As many as 950 bulls from different parts of Tamil Nadu were used in the game in which the Sri Lankan minister’s bulls also took part.

The list of gifts also included, for the first time, two cows of native breed sponsored by Pon. Kumar, a young entrepreneur from the village.

One of the cows was gifted to Thondaman, a Minister from Uva province in Sri Lanka and a jallikattu enthusiast, whose bull was adjudged the best bull of the day. 

Mr. Thondaman’s bull also won a car sponsored by a popular retail outlet for the best bull.

-Agencies