Death in the Afternoon
January 17, 2008 8:33 AM Subscribe
Jallikattu, [Stunning Photographs | Jallikattu YouTube] an Indian version of the Running of the Bulls, takes place in the State of Tamil Nadu, during the Pongal festival each year. This year, the Supreme Court directed the State Government to put a halt to the practice, in vain, and the bulls were forced to participate as usual (with 129 people being gored, and many more injured).
The guys in this shot are wearing shirts from IKEA… w.t.f.?
Also, here’s a YouTube of Water Buffalo Racing called “Kambala” from Karnataka.
The guys in this shot are wearing shirts from IKEA… w.t.f.?
Also, here’s a YouTube of Water Buffalo Racing called “Kambala” from Karnataka.
Ikea sponsors the event as most of their products are made from dust, glue and bull dung.
posted by zeoslap at 9:00 AM on January 17, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by zeoslap at 9:00 AM on January 17, 2008 [2 favorites]
But I assume in Tamil Nadu, the bulls are not killed in bullfights later that night?
posted by horsemuth at 9:21 AM on January 17, 2008
posted by horsemuth at 9:21 AM on January 17, 2008
Re IKEA: Where do you think most of the clothes that you donate to charity end up?
posted by blue_beetle at 9:36 AM on January 17, 2008
posted by blue_beetle at 9:36 AM on January 17, 2008
Those shirts are probably cheap reproductions. You can get clothes with Nike, Reebok and other logos for a few tens of rupees in many places in India. Does Ikea usually manufacture shirts?
posted by peacheater at 9:45 AM on January 17, 2008
posted by peacheater at 9:45 AM on January 17, 2008
Just wondering, are broads not dumb enough to join in:)
Amazing post, thanks (though diabolical music on the youtube!).
posted by Jody Tresidder at 10:19 AM on January 17, 2008
I love how even fucking around with bulls is so bright and colorful in India.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:40 AM on January 17, 2008
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 10:40 AM on January 17, 2008
Great post hadjiboy! I didn't know about these at all. Thank you.
posted by halonine at 11:21 AM on January 17, 2008
posted by halonine at 11:21 AM on January 17, 2008
Re IKEA: Little known fact, Tamil Nadu is the dowel and allen key capital of Asia.
Seriously though, great post.
posted by phirleh at 1:09 PM on January 17, 2008
Seriously though, great post.
posted by phirleh at 1:09 PM on January 17, 2008
India never ceases to turn up yet more surprises.
I was actually in Tamil Nadu during the Pongal festival once, but saw none of this. Mostly, the festival seemed to involve painting all the cows in bright fluorescent colours, draping flower garlands around their necks, and feeding them immense buckets of slops made from rice & sugar.
Oh, and there was some kind of dance performance in which a guy dressed as Hanuman, the monkey god, had his hands tied behind his back, yet he managed to get the tops off two Coke bottles using his teeth, then upended them in his mouth, and drained the contents of both bottles in one go. I'm guessing it must have been an incident from the Ramayana that I've never heard of, but I wonder how anybody managed to capture Sri Hanuman?
Also, can I assume that it's auspicious to be gored by one of these bulls?
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:45 PM on January 17, 2008
I was actually in Tamil Nadu during the Pongal festival once, but saw none of this. Mostly, the festival seemed to involve painting all the cows in bright fluorescent colours, draping flower garlands around their necks, and feeding them immense buckets of slops made from rice & sugar.
Oh, and there was some kind of dance performance in which a guy dressed as Hanuman, the monkey god, had his hands tied behind his back, yet he managed to get the tops off two Coke bottles using his teeth, then upended them in his mouth, and drained the contents of both bottles in one go. I'm guessing it must have been an incident from the Ramayana that I've never heard of, but I wonder how anybody managed to capture Sri Hanuman?
Also, can I assume that it's auspicious to be gored by one of these bulls?
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:45 PM on January 17, 2008
The 'police' on the left & right here are obviously impostors. They are having very fine moustaches, but their personalities are not imposing.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:50 PM on January 17, 2008
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:50 PM on January 17, 2008
Wow - that photographer is something else. I'd encourage people to spend a few months browsing all his galleries. I know that's what I'll be doing.
*sigh* - this reminds me so much of temples in Tamil Nadu. I'm thinking Chidambaram & Kumbakonam in particular. I can just smell the incense & butter lamps.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:08 PM on January 17, 2008
*sigh* - this reminds me so much of temples in Tamil Nadu. I'm thinking Chidambaram & Kumbakonam in particular. I can just smell the incense & butter lamps.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:08 PM on January 17, 2008
On youtube it looks more like the bull is trying to get away than to hurt anybody. As all crowd hysteria, the event looks pretty disgusting.
posted by semmi at 4:40 PM on January 17, 2008
posted by semmi at 4:40 PM on January 17, 2008
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posted by furtive at 8:47 AM on January 17, 2008