GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA - It was a test of manhood for young men at the 100th annual Ponggal festival at the "High Chaparral" of Penang.

In honour of the Harvest Festival, the Tamil community gathered to give thanks for the year's prosperity and prove their worth through a series of daring competitions.

Groups of youths faced off with bulls, weighing over 400kg, in an effort to yank off garlands from their horns.

Each garland contained RM100 ($41.68) to be shared among the successful group of bull chasers.

Valuku Maram or grease pole climbing proved to be a more daunting challenge as young men supported each other to reach the top of a 9.8m pole. The reward? A sweet RM1,000 in cash.

Kampung Buah Pala residents' association chairman M. Sugumaran, 54, said it was a double celebration for the community as they had recently won a court case related to the village land.

"We are are talking to the state government, to hopefully declare this village a heritage village," he said.

On Nov 10, the High Court dismissed an appeal by a cooperative and developer of an apartment project for vacant possession of a piece of land occupied by the cattle rearers in the village.