One of the most dramatic features of the annual harvest festival (Pongol) in Tamil Nadu are the bull-taming festivals held in villages near the state capital, Madurai. From miles around, farmers bring their prize animals to compete with hundreds of young men for pride, status and prizes which range from chickens to bicycles. When an irate bull is released into the crowd it is up to the bravest (or most foolhardy) to try and 'tame' it by clinging on to its back while it charges down the street. Unlike in Spanish bull-fighting, the animals aren't seriously harmed; the same can't be said, unfortunately, for many of the human participants.