India’s Tamil Nadu state is home to many different cultures and traditions. However, it has a distinctive culture, environment, and eating customs that easily draw in visitors. Every country or state has a few distinctive sports, such as the list of sports that Tamil Nadu also offers. The games that are played in Tamil Nadu will demonstrate the skill, knowledge, and determination of each player. Here is a list of several timeless and traditional Tamil Nadu sports.
Malyutham
The unarmed martial art of Tamil Nadu is where the game Malyutham first appeared. The game was primarily played in Tamil Nadu regions in the past. Malyutham is listed as one of the 64 Tamil traditional arts in ancient literature. Physical fitness comes first in the sport, and after that, the coach instructs their pupils in the tactics of grappling. Malyutham is also known as Marpor, and the game will be played in a circle of soft sand with a radius of 30 feet.
Rekla
Bullock cart racing, or “rekla,” is a traditional Tamil Nadu activity. The game demonstrates the strength of each player and their bullocks. This race is held as part of the Pongal festival.
Jallikattu
The pro-jallikattu protests of 2017, sometimes referred to as the pro-jallikattu movement, were mass, apolitical youth demonstrations that took place in numerous sites in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in January 2017. Along with elsewhere, isolated smaller protests also happened in India.
Another sport that is notably practised during the Pongal season is jallikattu. Since the Tamil Sangam era, bull-taming sports have been practised. The sport is also known as manju virattu and eru thazhuvuthal in popular culture. With proper training, bulls of the Pulikulam or Kangayam breed are employed in this game to display the strength and power of the populace. In this game, players attempt to hold the bull’s huge hump for as long as possible; the winner
Kabaddi
Kabaddi is the official sport in Tamil Nadu. There are two teams competing in the sport, and each team has seven players. The Tamil name kai-pidi is where the name Kabaddi originates. Kabaddi has its roots in ancient India’s Vedic era. The competition was added to the Asian Games schedule in 1990.
Seval Sandai
Seval Sandai, a well-liked rural sport in Tamil Nadu, is also known as Seval Porr. In this sport, the two cocks will spar after their owners tie a long blade to their feet. After three or four rounds, the contestant who is still standing is declared the winner. Some historical works, like Manu Needhi Sastiram, Kattu Seval Sastiram, and other Sangam literature, made reference to the sport.
Silambam
Indian martial art known as silambam has its roots in South India of the Indian subcontinent. The literature of the Tamil Sangam refers to this fashion. The World Silambam Association is the Silambam’s recognised worldwide governing body.
As evidenced by the mentions of Silappadikkaram in Sangam literature, silambam has been practised from the second century BC. The bamboo staff was in high demand with foreign traders, especially those from Southeast Asia where silambam had a significant influence on various fighting techniques, along with swords, pearls, and armour.
