Maarg Manthan · Topic 7.4

Animal Sports (Jallikattu, Kambala, Bulbul Fighting)

Art & Culture › Martial Arts & Sports · Topic 7.4

Animal sports are traditional rural events in which animals are made to run, fight or be tamed. Jallikattu is the bull-taming event of Tamil Nadu held at Pongal, banned by the Supreme Court in 2014 in the A. Nagaraja case, and restored through the Tamil Nadu amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in 2017, which a Constitution Bench upheld in May 2023. Kambala is the buffalo race of coastal Karnataka run in slushy paddy fields. Bulbul fighting is an Assam practice linked with Magh Bihu at Hajo and is restricted by wildlife and animal cruelty law.

6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Martial Arts & Sports

At a Glance

Jallikattu Tamil Nadu, bull taming, Pongal
Kambala Karnataka coast, buffalo race
Bulbul fighting Assam, Hajo, Magh Bihu
Key case A. Nagaraja, 2014; Constitution Bench, 2023
Law Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Martial Arts & Sports

Where Does It Fit?

This is the last topic of the macro on martial arts and sports. It joins culture with law, since the traditional animal events raise the clash between heritage claims and animal welfare. Previous topic: Forms of Traditional Martial Arts (Kalaripayattu, Silambam, Thang-Ta, Gatka, Mardani Khel, Musti Yuddha). Next topic: Mohenjo-daro Fire altars…">Pre-Vedic Religion.

What Are the Major Animal Sports of India?

Sport	State and occasion	Features and legal position
Jallikattu	Tamil Nadu. Mattu Pongal in January, in Madurai district villages such as Alanganallur, Palamedu and Avaniyapuram	Young men try to hold the hump of a running bull and take a prize. Also called Eru Thazhuvuthal. The name comes from salli kasu, coins tied to the horns. Native breeds include Kangayam, Pulikulam, Umblachery and Bargur
Kambala	Karnataka. Coastal districts Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, in the winter months	Pairs of buffaloes with a runner race through paddy fields filled with water and mud. A runner, Srinivasa Gowda, drew national attention in 2020 for a record run. The Karnataka amendment of 2017 allowed it with conditions
Bulbul fighting	Assam. Hajo near Guwahati, at Magh Bihu in January	Trained red-vented bulbuls fight over a perch with fruit. It was stopped by court orders and a 2024 decision to allow it under conditions was reported; the legal position is contested
Bullock cart race	Maharashtra and Punjab. Held in rural fairs	Allowed in Maharashtra through the state amendment of 2017; in Punjab the Kila Raipur sports festival is called the Rural Olympics
Cockfighting	Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Linked with Sankranti	Prohibited by law but held in many villages
Dhirio	Goa. A bullfight in which bulls fight each other and no human enters	Contested on animal welfare grounds and not a sanctioned event, with its legal position unsettled

How Has the Law Treated Animal Sports?

Point	Detail
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960	the main statute. It prohibits causing unnecessary pain and sets up the Animal Welfare Board of India, formed in 1962
Section 11	lists acts of cruelty
A. Nagaraja case, 2014	Animal Welfare Board of India v A. Nagaraja. The Supreme Court banned Jallikattu and bullock cart races on 7 May 2014, relying on the five freedoms of animals and Article 21
2016 notification	a notification of the Environment Ministry allowed bulls in Jallikattu and was stayed by the Court
2017 protests	mass youth gatherings at Marina Beach in Chennai led to an ordinance in January 2017 and then the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017
Other states	Karnataka passed an amendment for Kambala and bullock cart races, and Maharashtra for bullock cart races, in 2017
Constitution Bench, 2023	on 18 May 2023 a five-judge Bench upheld the amendment laws of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra, treating Jallikattu as a part of cultural heritage and finding the amendments valid, with the rules to be strictly applied
Constitution provisions	Article 51A(g) makes compassion for living creatures a fundamental duty and Entry 17 of the Concurrent List covers prevention of cruelty to animals

What Else Should You Remember?

Alternate names: Jallikattu is also called Eru Thazhuvuthal, Manju Virattu and Sallikattu; Kambala is spelt Kambla; bulbul fighting is the Hajo bulbul fight of Magh Bihu; bullock cart racing is called Bailgada Sharyat in Maharashtra
Where each is held: Jallikattu in Madurai, Dindigul and Pudukkottai districts of Tamil Nadu; Kambala in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Karnataka; bulbul fights at Hajo, Kamrup district of Assam
Five freedoms: freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain and injury, fear and distress, and freedom to express normal behaviour. The Court in the Nagaraja case read these into the Act
Right to life: the Court held that the right to life under Article 21 includes the dignity of animals, which later bench rulings discussed
Cultural claim: supporters argue that Jallikattu is an old Tamil custom, citing Sangam literature, a Mohenjo-daro seal and cave art of bull taming near Madurai
Welfare claim: opponents cite injuries to bulls and people, forced running, alcohol use, and the use of chilli powder on bulls
Safeguards: rules require veterinary checks, medical teams, barricades, limits on the number of bulls and persons, and recorded events
Native breeds: supporters say that the sport saves native breeds from being replaced by cross-bred cattle, while others doubt that a bull event can protect breeds
Wildlife protection: capture and use of wild birds is restricted under wildlife law, which is a main argument against bird fights
Registry and festivals: the matter of Jallikattu and Kambala as events is also covered in Jallikattu and Kambala (Animal Sports/Festivals)
Cattle in culture: bulls are linked with Pongal, with Nandi and with farming, which is why the events are tied to harvest festivals
Prelims trap: the 2014 case banned Jallikattu, but the 2023 judgment did not make the sport free of rules

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Case and year: A. Nagaraja, 2014 and the Constitution Bench of 2023
State and festival: Jallikattu at Pongal, Kambala in coastal Karnataka, bulbul fights at Magh Bihu
Law: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and Article 51A(g)
Body: Animal Welfare Board of India
Common errors: placing Kambala in Kerala, or saying that the Supreme Court permanently banned Jallikattu

As an analytical point, the debate sets cultural rights under Article 29 and Article 25 against the welfare of animals. A balanced approach would regulate the events with strict safety, health checks and monitoring instead of choosing a ban or unregulated freedom.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Law Cases and amendments
Culture Tradition versus welfare
Mains Federal and judicial angle

What Came Next?

The next macro begins with religion, starting from the beliefs of the earliest cultures before the Vedas. Next topic: Pre-Vedic Religion.

Key People and Terms

Jallikattu Bull-taming event
Kambala Buffalo race
Salli kasu Coins on horns
AWBI Statutory welfare body
Five freedoms Animal welfare standard
Mattu Pongal Cattle day of Pongal

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Jallikattu ban: 2014, A. Nagaraja case.
Tamil Nadu amendment: 2017.
Upheld by a Constitution Bench: 18 May 2023.
Kambala: coastal Karnataka, buffaloes.
Bulbul fights: Hajo, Assam.

Do Not Confuse With

Jallikattu and Kambala Bulls in Tamil Nadu versus buffaloes in Karnataka
Jallikattu and Dhirio Human bull-taming versus bull-to-bull fight in Goa
Statute and Constitution PCA Act 1960 versus Article 51A(g)

Memory Hook

Bull in Tamil Nadu, buffalo in Karnataka, bulbul in Assam, and the law in between.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for a balanced view on tradition and animal welfare. These points give a frame.

Heritage Rural roots and identity
Welfare Cruelty and safety
Law Courts and legislatures

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Jallikattu and similar events bring the claims of cultural tradition into conflict with animal welfare. Discuss in the light of judicial rulings.”

How to Answer

Context Events and states.
Law PCA Act and rulings.
Conflict Culture versus welfare.
Way Strict regulation and monitoring.

GS Relevance

Prelims: animal sports, law, Supreme Court cases, Articles 21 and 51A(g). GS Paper 1: Indian culture; GS Paper 2: judiciary and animal welfare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Jallikattu important for UPSC?

It is important because it joins culture with law. Prelims asks about the A. Nagaraja case of 2014, the 2017 Tamil Nadu amendment and the 2023 Constitution Bench ruling, while Mains uses it for tradition versus animal welfare, Article 51A(g), federalism and the role of the Animal Welfare Board of India.

Is Jallikattu legal in India now?

Yes, with conditions. The Tamil Nadu amendment of 2017 to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act permits Jallikattu, and a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld it on 18 May 2023. Events must follow rules on veterinary checks, medical teams, barricades and limits on bulls and participants.

What is Jallikattu?

Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming event of Tamil Nadu held during Mattu Pongal in January, mainly in Madurai district. Participants try to hold the hump of a running bull for a prize. It is also called Eru Thazhuvuthal and is defended as an old custom of the Tamil people.

What did the Supreme Court decide in the A. Nagaraja case?

In Animal Welfare Board of India v A. Nagaraja on 7 May 2014, the Supreme Court banned Jallikattu and bullock cart races. It held that the events cause unnecessary pain to animals and read the five freedoms of animals and Article 21 into the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

How was Jallikattu allowed again?

After mass protests in January 2017 the Tamil Nadu government issued an ordinance and then passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017. A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court upheld this law on 18 May 2023, along with similar laws of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

What is Kambala?

Kambala is a traditional buffalo race of coastal Karnataka, held in the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Pairs of buffaloes run through water-filled paddy fields with a runner behind them. It is held with conditions after the Karnataka amendment of 2017 to the animal cruelty law.

What is bulbul fighting in Assam?

Bulbul fighting is a traditional event of Assam, held at Hajo near Guwahati during Magh Bihu, in which trained red-vented bulbuls fight for a perch. It was stopped under court orders and animal law, and a later decision to allow it with conditions was reported, so its legal position remains debated.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Supreme Court banned Jallikattu in the A. Nagaraja case in 2014.

True

The ban was later met by the 2017 amendment.

2 Kambala is a buffalo race of Kerala.

False

It belongs to coastal Karnataka.

3 Article 51A(g) imposes a duty of compassion for living creatures.