The sport, first mentioned in third-century AD Indian manuscripts, is a part of the four-day Pongal festival, an annual harvest holiday. Bulls are usually released into a large open space, and participants pull prizes from their horns.
The Indian Supreme Court banned the event last week, but reversed the ban three days later after mass protests of Tamil Nadu villagers, who said the ban restricted their religious freedom.
According to local superstition, if the competition is not held, the following harvest will be poor.
Although bulls are not killed in the event, organizers are accused by animal rights activists of torturing bulls before the competition to make them more aggressive. The Animal Welfare Board of India says bulls are given alcohol, and their eyes smeared with chili pepper or lemon juice before the event.
