Chennai: A bull tamer, who had this far tamed nine bulls at the famous Palamedu Jallikattu in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu, died after he was gored by a bull in the arena on Monday.

The deceased was identified as 26-year-old Arvind Raj.

After taming nine bulls since morning and standing third for taming the highest number of bulls, Arvind tried to tame yet another bull, which came out of Vaadivasal, into the arena, when it gored him.

He sustained severe injuries in his lower abdomen and was rushed to the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai, where he was declared brought .

Meanwhile, reports said 33 people sustained injuries till today afternoon while taming bulls as the Jallikattu event continued. Some of the injured were including

Arvind was referred to the GRH for treatment, where Arvind was declared dead.

On ‘Mattu’ Pongal day, the penultimate day of the four-day Pongal festivities, Jallikattu was held at Palamedu today after it was held at Avuniyapuram yesterday.

Tomorrow, the Jallikattu will be held at the world famous Alanganallur in Madurai, which used to attract visitors from various parts of the country and abroad.

From time immemorial, the traditional rural sport of Jallikattu (taming of bulls), which attracts thousands of people from different parts of the country and also from abroad, is synonymous with the four-day long Festival of harvest-- Pongal in Tamil Nadu.

No Pongal Festivities are complete without Jallikattu, being held in southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

For this sport of bravery, a specific breed of cattle is reared and the youths display their courage by taming it.

Every year Alanganallur, Avinayapuram and Palemedu panchayat towns would be tastefully decorated for the annual sport, which symbolises the heroism, valour and courage of the youth.

Jallikattu bulls are not used for any agricultural purposes. They are mostly kept as a family tradition or as a status symbol by the owners.

The Jalikattu event has considerable historical significance and is ingrained as part of the cultural tradition of Tamil Nadu as a sport which was popular among warriors since the "Sangam era".

This tradition is followed till now. It is inextricably linked to rural, agrarian customs and has religious overtones, with families donating bulls to temples in fulfilment of vows.

As the bulls were released from the vadivasal into the arena in Palamedu, enthusiastic tamers flexed their muscles to win over the animals after Tamil Nadu Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P. Moorthy flagged off the events in the presence of Madurai Dsitrict Collector S.Aneesh Sekhar, who administered the traditional pledge for the fair conduct of the event.

Winning bull owners, whose bulls were not caught and the bull tamers who scored points, were given wide range of gifts that included gold and siver coins, mixies, wrist watches, suitcases, stainless steel utensils among others after the release of every bull.

As of 3.00 pm, more than 600 bulls were released through the vadivasal at the end of six rounds, organisers said.

(With UNI inputs)