Newly built arena at Suriyur to host first bull taming event in Tiruchi

The newly constructed Jallikattu arena at Suriyur village on the outskirts of Tiruchi is ready to host the first bull taming event in Tiruchi district during 2026.

The permanent arena is all set to be inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on January 15 evening, said official sources.

The new arena with associated facilities has been completed at a cost of ₹3 crore with the project sanctioned by the Department of Youth Welfare and Sports Development of the Tamil Nadu government. All works connected with the project have been completed and the new arena is ready for inauguration.

The arena has a gallery on either side to accommodate visitors, ‘vaadivaasal’ from where the jallikattu bulls are to be released one after the other on the day of the event, couple of stages to accommodate the VIPs and other officials to watch the bull taming event.

The first jallikattu event in Tiruchi district kicks off at Suriyur village on the second day of the Tamil month ‘Thai’ when the ‘Maattu Pongal’ festival is celebrated. It has been the customary practice of the villagers of Periya Suriyur to hold the event a day after the Pongal festival. This time the Maattu Pongal day is to be celebrated on January 16.

Arrangements for holding the jallikattu event at the permanent arena are being carried out in a feverish pace by the event organisers at the permanent arena. The first jallikattu will be held at the arena on January 16. One of the members of the event organising committee said that they expected the participation of over 800 bulls from various district this time. Double barricading of the bull run area has been done to prevent onlookers from entering it when the event is underway. Barricading of the collection point is being done as part of the arrangements for the event.