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Manjuvirattu - Siravayal


The new morning in Karaikudi was filled with Manjuvirattu excitement. 'Thanthi TV' OP van outside our hotel added to it. Had a quick breakfast at Jaintika and left immediately to Siravayal village, 2 kms from Karaikudi.

The narrow road from the highway leading towards the Jallikattu ground was filled with crowds marching, 2-wheelers with 3 heads and 4-wheelers with the bulls. Its a mega event. The bulls and fighters had to register before-hand to participate.

Bull just arrived
The bulls were brought to mini tempo vehicles. On reaching the ground the bulls tied to the tempo are let free and brought to ground. There they are tied to trees or posts before being let out for Manju virattu.
Taken inside the circle
Manju virattu registration involves the process of registering, checking bull's health. Some families are briging in their bulls much later in the day missing the registration. So they let the bulls loose in the outer pace of the circle creating ruckos among the audience. They are still in a safe zone as most of them stand on the mini tempos and on top of the 4-wheelers around.
 
Huge crowd around the circle
Manjuvirattu's scheduled start was 10 AM but we can still see bulls being brought till 12 noon. The audience were treated to colorful ice candies made of semiya and javvarisi. Pongal sugarcanes were also sold. Manju virattu is a village entertainment extravaganza.

We had to duck behind vehicles to reach our car as bulls were let loose in the parking area as they came in late. At one instance we were urges to board a tempo to escape a bull. Reached our car after an adventurous time and left straight back to Chennai
   
Closing the trip

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Location: Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India

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