Villagers run the gauntlet in Indian bull-taming festival

Dozens of villagers piled into a ring with several raging bulls today as part of the harvest festival of Pongal in southern India.

The bull-taming festival takes place on the outskirts of Madurai town, around 310 miles south-west of the city of Chennai.

A villager tries to control a bull during the bull-taming festival Credit: REUTERS/Babu

A villager is pinned down by a bull as others climb a fence to protect themselves Credit: REUTERS/Babu

Villages cling to fences as a bull tears past Credit: REUTERS/Babu

Last updated Wed 15 Jan 2014