Shivamogga: Jallikattu and Kambala, the traditional sports of Tamilnadu and Coastal Karnataka respectively have been a matter of debate after animal activists moved Court billing the sports as ‘cruelty’ on animals. However, in Shimogga and Haveri regions of Karnataka, a traditional sport named ‘Hori Bedarisuva Spardhe’ goes on unabated. The game involving taming or scaring of the bulls has grown out of the mould of being a traditional sport and today it stands to be a big ‘money spinner’.
Specifically played during the harvest season-like Jallikattu and Kambala, this sport provides no safety to participants and the animals and is more of celebrating ‘violence’ and ‘masculinity’.
As per sources, superior breeds- Amruthmahal and Hallikar breeds are brought and embellished for the show. They are then made to run around the ring as people start shouting slogans. The aim is to stop the bull and tame it and the one who successfully does it is declared a winner. The ones who manage to pull out the garland put around the bull are given consolation prizes. The owners of bulls that reach the goal post are also honoured.
The winners of the event walk with their heads held high as they are looked upon as heroes of the village.
It is said that over 250 events of taming the bull is held every year in Shivamogga district alone.
Though the event is immensely popular, the locals do feel the need to monitor the event as sometimes it gets overboard with casualties galoring.
It may be recalled that on December 20, 2015, Chandrashekhar Acharya, a farmer from Honnali taluk died of heart attack following a stampede at a bull-taming event near Hirekerur in Haveri district.
A report in The Hindu quotes that in November 2014, two youths were killed when they were gored by a bull at an event held in Haramaghatta village in Shivamogga taluk. Three persons were badly injured in a similar incident in Ayanur village in November, 2015. Many other minor events have gone unreported.
Though it is said that district administration is planning to bring in guidelines for the event, the once humble event has got commercial overtones.
The sport has become a big money spinner with major sponsors coming forth to back the event.
The sponsors offer prizes ranging from gold to bikes, from smartphones to appliances.
Around the event venues takes place other activities like betting, gambling and liquor sales as well.
