Thrissur welcomes fierce tigers, marks end of Onam fete

Thrissur all set to welcome the fierce tigers

Thrissur: Accompanied by the rustic beats of chendamelam and the rhythmic jingling of the tiny bells on their waist band, around 300 tigers took over the streets of the Thrissur city on Saturday. Artists donning body art in leopard prints and tiger stripes danced to the drum beats at the Swaraj Round in the spectacular 'Pulikali', a traditional folk art form.

This year, six teams from Viyyoor centre, Viyyoor desham, Ayyanthol, Thrikumarakudam, Kottapuram desham and Kottapuram centre took part in the popular street art which marks the end of the Onam celebrations in Kerala. Though four teams had registered for the event last year, Pulikali was cancelled after the devastation caused due to the floods, the worst this century.

Thrissur welcomes fierce tigers, marks end of Onam fete

The six teams put forth a grand event that thrilled Thrissur, known as the cultural capital of the state. All the teams wore their unique and fierce tiger masks. There were around 35-50 members in each pulikali team.

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This year, three women also performed pulikali. It was in 2016 that women decided to take part in the tiger dance, creating history.

There were around 25 members in each chendamelam group, with only ilathalam, chenda and thappu instruments in play. The teams were judged for the perfection of their body art and costume, drum beats, dancing, discipline and tableaux as well.

Thrissur all set to welcome the fierce tigers

Symbolic 'tigers', dancing, pouncing and shaking their bellies along the road, attracted thousands of people, including foreigners. The pulikali event in the rural centres began at 2pm. The grand procession was flagged at the Bini junction in Swaraj Round.

Once all the pulikali teams entered the Swaraj Round they combined together showing off their feral dance moves, in all its ferocity.

Thrissur all set to welcome the fierce tigers

Believed to have been introduced by erstwhile ruler of Cochin, Maharaja Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran, two centuries ago, pulikali is a symbolic representation of bravery and wild spirit.

Amazing prizes

Thrissur all set to welcome the fierce tigers

The best pulikali team would get Rs 40,000 as prize money while the best tableau would win Rs 35,000. The corporation would give Rs 30,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively for the pulikali teams that win the second and third positions.

The second prize winner of tableau would win Rs 30,000 and the tableau that wins the third prize would get Rs 25,000. The best rhythmic beats and best tiger costume would win Rs 7000 each. A consolation prize of Rs12, 500 would be given to the team that displays discipline and decorum.

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