Pulikali today in Thrissur: Timings, traffic restrictions and private vehicle re-routing details

Thrissur: The much-awaited Pulikkali will take over Swaraj Round this evening, marking the culmination of the Onam festive season. Teams from Veliyannur, Kuttankulangara, Yuvajana Sangham Viyyur, Shankarakulangara, Ayyanthole, Chakkamukku, Seetharam Mill, Naikkanal, and Patturaykkal will join this year’s parade. Last year, seven teams participated.

Artists, who began painting their bodies as early as 6 am, spend nearly eight hours transforming into tigers. To prevent enamel paint from sticking, they stand with arms stretched against wooden poles until the grand march begins in the evening. “My love for body art drew me into this,” says Greeshma, a Fine Arts student from Mavelikkara, making her debut as a Pulikkali painter for the Kuttankulangara team. For veterans, Pulikkali is a way of life. Naushad, who has donned the tiger costume for over 50 years, says, “I wait for this day every year. My only wish is to leave this world during Pulikkali.” Social media influencer Nimisha Bijo will also wear the tiger stripes again this year for the Seethaaram Mill Desham team. Children in tiger paint will add to the festive charm.

The event will be flagged off at 4.30 pm at the southern gate of the Swaraj Round temple by Mayor MK Varghese in the presence of ministers and MLAs. Each team will bring along tableaux, while foreign tourists will watch from special pavilions set up by the district administration, cultural department, and the corporation.

Teams will march into Swaraj Round from different entry points — Kuttankulangara from Bini Junction, Yuvajana Sangham Viyyur near Kalyan Jewellers, Shankarakulangara, Ayyanthole, Chakkamukku and Seetharam Mill from Naduvilal Junction, and Naikkanal and Patturaykkal from Naikkanal Junction. Each group will have 35–51 tigers, one tableau, and a tiger cart. Crowds from across Kerala have already begun arriving to witness Thrissur’s streets throb with the energy of the tiger dance.

Prizes include ₹62,500, ₹50,000, and ₹43,750 for the top three teams. Tableaux will fetch up to ₹50,000, while the tiger cart and costumes carry smaller prizes. For the first time, awards are also being given for body painting and make-up display. In total, the corporation has ensured insurance cover worth ₹50 lakh and financial aid of ₹3,12,500 per team, with advance payments already released. After the event, 150 litres of kerosene will be distributed to help performers remove the paint.

Traffic restrictions, rerouting
Traffic restrictions will be in place at Swaraj Round and nearby areas from 2 pm onwards. So, if you want to enjoy Pulikali from a perfect spot, then do not be late. Meanwhile, the police are on high alert to prevent crimes, traffic violations or other anti-social activities. Police control room number: 0487 2424193

• Buses from Mannuthi, Puthoor directions on the way to Sakthan Stand should take the Fathima Nagar, ITC Junction, Ikkanda Warrier Road to the stand and return via the Mission Quarters Road
• Buses from the Mannuthi, Nellankara direction to Vadakke Stand should take the Penshanmoola route to reach the stand
• All buses via the Poonkunnam route should complete the service at Poonkunnam and return via Padinjarekotta
• Buses coming via Padinjarekkotta should end the service between Nethaji Ground and Padinjarekkotta
• Buses via Koorkkancheri should take the Balya Junction to reach Sakthan stand and return via Kannankulangara and Chiyyaram
• Buses shouldn't take the Kasthurba Hospital - Sakthan stand route

Private buses

• Vehicles that want to take the Padinjarekkotta route from Iringalakkuda and Ollur routes should take the Vadukkara - Aranattukara route
• Except for buses and trailers, vehicles from Aswini direction to Palakkad and Ernakulam should take the Nellankara route
• Small vehicles from Kunnamkulam to Palakkad should take the Kottekkadu, Viyyur, Ponganamkadu route

Time slots 
Each troupe will enter the city at the specific time slots allotted to them. Troupes would break coconuts as an offering for the Naduvilal Ganapathy before parading the city. Kuttankulangara Desom will enter the city from Bini Junction while Viyyur Yuvajana Sangham will start from near Kalyan Jewellers. Shankanrankulangara, Ayyanthol, Chakkamukku and Seetharam Mills will enter via Naduvilal Junction while Naykanal and Patturakkal Desoms will join the procession via Naykanal Junction.