On Tuesday, hundreds of people in Chennai came together near Vivekananda House at Marina beach protesting the ban on Jallikattu, the bull-taming event part of traditional Pongal celebrations. The protest reportedly did not have any clear organisers or leaders, and yet individuals teamed together and refused to leave the Chennai beach until Jallikattu was allowed in the state. The Supreme Court has said that it can't deliver a final verdict on the Jallikattu ban before Saturday, which marks the day Tamil Nadu will celebrate as Pongal.
Protesters stayed through the night at Marina beach, reportedly sleeping in the adjacent lawns. Many of them had not left the protest site on Wednesday morning at the time of this report.
"Here no internet connection, rarely mobile network comes. We need more water and food. We planned to stay here overnight till we get result," posted several protesters on Facebook.
Some of the protesters were taken for negotiation to Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar's residence in Santhome where they were joined by Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Ma Foi K Pandiarajan, reported The New Indian Express. However, the ministers reportedly told the protesters that issuing an ordinance on the matter was beyond the scope of the state government.
According to reports, several celebrities including film stars and musicians were also present at the protest site to extend their support.
Some news organisations reported that there as many as 5,000 such protestors were present at the Marina beach. According to The News Minute, "The number of protesters was so high that the crowd spilled over to the beach road."
The protest, which began on Tuesday morning, continued to grow through the day as the crowd at Marina beach swelled. Protestors stayed through the night demanding Jallikattu be allowed for the Pongal celebrations. They also asked for scrapping of FIRs against protestors in Alanganallur and called for a ban on animal-rights group PETA.
Hola Mohalla festival
(01 of11)
Open Image Modal"One of the five temporal seats of Sikhism, Anandpur Sahib located in Ropar district in Punjab, is the main place associated with festival of Hola Mohalla. It was here in 1699 that the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singhji started the Sikh panth. There is a magnificent Gurudwara atop a hilltop referred to as Keshgarh Sahib. The river Sutluj flows on the southern side forming a boundary with beautiful Himalayas in full panoramic view." (credit:Maninder Singh Sodhi)
(02 of11)
Open Image Modal(03 of11)
Open Image Modal"Nihang Baljeet Singh was displaying his archery skills during 1998. His yellow robes and a very antique-looking bow and arrow and other weapons of war he was carrying on him made me capture this moment against a clear blue sky. A polarizer was used on the roll film camera with Kodak 400 asa film." (credit:Maninder Singh Sodhi)
(04 of11)
Open Image Modal"This one was shot with a film camera in 1999 during the Tricennetary celebrations of the Khalksa Panth, this horse rider with a Neza (pointed weapon) used in tent pegging was gracefully displaying his martial art skills." (credit:Maninder Singh Sodhi)
(05 of11)
Open Image Modal"In this shot I was experimenting with the photographic technique of ‘panning’. After many unsuccessful attempts, I finally got a shot of an elderly horseman in motion." (credit:Maninder Singh Sodhi)
(06 of11)
Open Image Modal"Shot in 2010, this picture has a story behind it. Nihang Gulzar Singh, who is in his 70s, insisted that I give him an instant print, which he wanted to carry home for his family. After a lot of struggle and several explanations, I told him it was not possible to give him a print of his photo, which was his precondition for a photoshoot. I told him I would instead mail him at the earliest if he would give me his mailing address. I kept my promise but was not sure whether he received it or not. I also didn’t see him after that date even though I am a regular at the festival and know many of these warriors. The pink colour on his nose and his orange turban are the highlights of the photograph." (credit:Maninder Singh Sodhi)
(07 of11)
Open Image Modal(08 of11)
Open Image Modal"Shot in 2012, this one was shot in a nihang camp where they were dressing up and getting ready for the final day of the festival at Charan Ganga Stadium. Some were tying their turban, some twirling their moustaches, some getting ready with newly stitched clothes. The ‘Khanda’ is evident on all the three warriors’s forehead, the symbol of Sikhism." (credit:Maninder Singh Sodhi)
(09 of11)
Open Image Modal"Anandpur Sahib is referred to as ‘holy city of bliss’ and is mainly surrounded by semi-urban towns and villages. During the three-day festival, the town comes to life with lakhs of devotees converging here to pay their reverence to the 10th Guru. Devotees arriving in cars, vans, tractors, motorcycles are offered community kitchen food (langar) enroute to the gurudwara by the villagers." (credit:Maninder Singh Sodhi)
(10 of11)
Open Image Modal"Shot in 2015, I had especially purchased a 85mm lens for potraite of Nihangs. Here is an exciting study of young and the old warriors." (credit:Maninder Singh Sodhi)
(11 of11)
Open Image Modal"Langar or community kitchen is an integral part of Sikh culture. Villages which are situated on either side of the major roads leading to the gurudwara have makeshift arrangements for devotees. Freshly cook food is served free of cost with love and devotion and without any discrimination of caste, creed, colour and religion. Here village folks, men, women and youngsters are seen preparing langar. This is shot with a Nikon fisheye 10.5mm lens." (credit:Maninder Singh Sodhi)