Pulikali today in Thrissur: How it will unfold; traffic restrictions

Pulikali, Thrissur's traditional Onam-special folk art in which artistes paint their bodies to resemble leopards, will be held today from 4 pm at Swaraj Round. With hours left, the makeshift 'tiger dens' across the city are buzzing with activity. How will it unfold, and what traffic restrictions are in place because of it? Here are the details. 

Order in which pulis will 'pounce' on spectators
The troupes will set out from their respective bases around 2 pm, converging at Thrissur's Bini Junction for the official flag-off by Minister OJ Janeesh at 4 pm. All troupes are expected to enter Swaraj Round by 7 pm, leading up to a crescendo of competitive performances at Naduvilal. Organisers expect the celebrations and judging process to conclude by 10 pm. Thrissur Mayor Niji Justin revealed plans to elevate the festival next year by inviting more troupes with an eye on setting a Guinness World Record. 

Stunning floats and strict civic guidelines
Each troupe will present two meticulously designed floats featuring mythological and contemporary themes. While the municipal corporation's traditional 'Haritha Vahanam' (green vehicle) float has been omitted this time, a special anti-drug themed float titled 'Operation Toofan' will be featured as a joint initiative by the local police and the civic body. The corporation will provide 250 litres of drinking water and 120 litres of kerosene to each team to wash off the toxic body paints. Performance evaluation points have been set up near Paramekkavu Temple, MO Road, and Naduvilal Junction.

Bumper cash prizes and new categories
To drum up excitement, the municipal corporation has hiked the total prize pool to ₹3.50 lakh from last year's ₹3.12 lakh. Half of this prize amount (₹1.75 lakh) has already been disbursed to the participating troupes, with the remainder payable after the event. The best-performing team will walk away with a cash prize of ₹70,000, while the runners-up and third-placed teams will receive ₹60,000 and ₹50,000, respectively.

Trophies and cash rewards are also up for grabs in nine different categories, including best mythological float, best contemporary float, best percussion (pulikkottu), best tiger costume (pulivesham), best tiger vehicle (pulivahanam), best paintwork (pulivara), and the newly introduced category for best tiger ornaments (pulichamayam). A special award of ₹20,000 will be given to the most disciplined team.

Traffic restrictions in place
After 2 pm, traffic restrictions will be enforced in Thrissur. Parking of private vehicles will not be allowed in Swaraj Round and the other nearby roads. Around 30 parking spots have been set up. Here are the other restrictions: 

a) Buses arriving from Mannuthy and heading to Sakthan Stand should turn left at Pulikkans Market Centre and proceed via Nellikkunnu Mar Aprem, Fathima Nagar, ITC Junction and Ikanda Warrier Road to enter Sakthan Thampuran Stand. They should return via Mission Quarters, Kattookaran Junction, Shavakkotta and Fathima Nagar Junction before continuing their service.

b) Buses arriving from Mannuthy and heading to Vadakke Stand should turn right at East Fort and proceed via Pension Moola and Ashwini Junction to enter Vadakke Stand. They should return via Stadium Junction before continuing their service.
c) Buses operating from Mandamangalam, Puthur, Valakkavu and nearby areas should turn left at ITC Junction and proceed via Ikanda Warrier Road to enter Sakthan Thampuran Stand. They should return via Mission Quarters and Fathima Nagar Junction before continuing their service.

d) Buses heading to Vadakke Stand from Mukkattukara and Nellankara should reach Bishop Palace, turn right and proceed via Pension Moola, Chembukkavu Junction, Ramanilayam and Ashwini Junction to enter Vadakke Stand. They should return via Indoor Stadium Junction before continuing their service.

e) Buses operating from Chelakkara, Wadakkanchery, Ottapalam, Pazhayannur and Thiruvilwamala should reach Peringavu and proceed via Kolothumpadam Road and Ashwini Junction to enter Vadakke Stand. They should return and continue their service as usual.
f) Buses operating from Medical College, Athani and Kottekkad should reach Peringavu and proceed via Kolothumpadam Road and Ashwini Junction to enter Vadakke Stand. They should return and continue their service as usual.

g) Buses operating from Cheroor, Pallimoola, Mattampuram and Kundukad should proceed via Balabhavan, turn right at Chembukkavu Junction and continue via Ramanilayam, Indoor Stadium Junction and Ashwini Junction to enter Vadakke Stand. They should return via Indoor Stadium Junction before continuing their service.
h) All buses arriving via Poonkunnam from Kunnamkulam, Kozhikode, Guruvayur, Adatt and other areas should terminate their route at Poonkunnam and return via West Fort, Ayyanthole Civil Line, Ayyanthole Ground and Lulu Junction. 

i) All buses arriving via West Fort from Wadakkanchery, Anthikad, Kanjany and other areas should turn from West Fort via Calvary Road and terminate their route in the stretch from Thoppin Moola to the vicinity of Netaji Ground and West Fort. They should then return via West Fort and continue their service.
j) All buses arriving via Kurkanchery from Kodungallur, Irinjalakuda, Thriprayar, Cherpu and other areas should reach Balya Junction, turn right and enter Sakthan Thampuran Stand, before returning and continuing their service as usual. Light vehicles travelling via Kurkanchery from Kodungallur, Irinjalakuda, Thriprayar and Cherpu towards West Fort should turn left at Kurkanchery and proceed via Vadookkara and Aranattukara.

k) Buses arriving from Ollur, Amballur, Varandarappilly and nearby areas should reach Mundupalam Junction, turn left and terminate their service at Sakthan Stand. They should return via Kattookaran Junction.
l) Vehicles other than buses and trailers travelling from Ashwini towards Mannuthy, Palakkad and Ernakulam should descend via Pension Moola and proceed through Nellankara and Mukkattukara.

m) Vehicles other than buses and trailers travelling from Kunnamkulam towards Palakkad should turn at Mundur and proceed via Kottekkad, Viyyur Bridge and Power House, and then via Pongannamkad, Chirakkode and Mundikkode.
n) Vehicles other than buses and trailers travelling from Kunnamkulam towards Ernakulam should turn at Mundur and proceed via Kottekkad, Viyyur Bridge and Power House, and then via Pongannamkad and Mukkattukara.
o) All light vehicles travelling from Chiyyaram towards West Fort should turn left from Kurkanchery Centre and proceed via Vadookkara and Thoppinmoola.

KSRTC Services
a) All KSRTC buses operating from the KSRTC Stand towards Chalakudy and Ernakulam should operate via Kannamkulangara and Chiyyaram.
b) All KSRTC buses arriving from the western region should turn right at Poonkunnam Junction and proceed via Shankarayyar Road and Poothole to enter the KSRTC Stand.

c) Ordinary KSRTC buses operating towards Angamaly, Chalakudy, Pudukad and Irinjalakuda should terminate their service at the temporary bus stand being set up at Sakthan Thampuran Stand and operate their return services from there.
d) KSRTC buses operating towards Shoranur, Vazhayikkadavu and Medical College should avoid entering Swaraj Round and instead operate via ITC Junction, East Fort, Ashwini Junction and Kolothumpadam.