Flag hoisted for Pulikali fest in Thrissur; Corporation sets aside ₹3.2 lakh for each team

Thrissur: As Onam rounds the corner, Thrissur has begun preparations for the much-awaited Pulikali Mahotsavam. Corporation Mayor MK Varghese hoisted the ceremonial flag at Naduvilal on Tuesday morning, marking the official start of the festivities. Adding colour to the event, differently-abled artistes from Kolazhy Poombatta Kala Peedom performed chenda.

The Mayor announced that the Corporation has completed all arrangements for this year’s celebration. Each participating team will receive ₹3.20 lakh in financial assistance, with the advance amount already distributed.

“Thrissur is stepping into a season of celebrations,” Mayor Varghese said.

This year’s Pulikkali will be held on September 8, coinciding with Naalonam day. A total of nine teams will take part in the grand spectacle at Swaraj Round.

Pulikkali, in which performers paint their bodies with tiger stripes and don masks, is a vibrant folk art where dancers move to the beats of chenda, thakil, and udukku. The performance, themed around tiger hunting, draws thousands of spectators every year, including visitors from across the globe.