4 days ago
Nine Pulikali Teams Prepare for Thrissur’s Onam Spectacle
Pulikali is a colorful tiger dance celebrated during Onam in Thrissur.
Nine teams will join this year’s event.
The performers paint and dress themselves like tigers.
Women and children will also take part.
The teams will walk from their neighborhoods to Swaraj Round.
They will dance and entertain many spectators there.
Special decorated tableaux will make the celebration brighter.
The city corporation is giving money and kerosene to help the teams prepare.
Nine teams will participate in Thrissur’s Pulikali celebrations on Saturday evening.
Teams will begin processions around 4 p.m. and reach Swaraj Round by about 5 p.m.
Each team will feature 35 to 51 performers, including women, children and several tiger characters.
Thrissur Corporation will provide each team Rs 3.5 lakh and 120 litres of kerosene.
Prizes will be awarded for the top three teams and several performance categories.
- Who
- Nine Pulikali teams, including groups from Viyyur, Kuttankulangara, Patturaikkal and six other localities, will participate.
- What
- A traditional Pulikali tiger-dance celebration and procession will be held as part of Onam festivities.
- Where
- The teams will process from their respective localities to Swaraj Round in Thrissur, stopping to break coconuts before the Naduvilal Ganapathy idol.
- When
- The main event is scheduled for Saturday evening, with processions beginning around 4 p.m. and reaching Swaraj Round by about 5 p.m.; costume preparations began Thursday evening.
- Why
- Pulikali is an established part of Thrissur’s Onam celebrations and attracts tens of thousands of spectators.
Key facts
- Participating teams
- Nine teams
- Performers per team
- 35 to 51
- Procession start
- Around 4 p.m. on Saturday
- Expected arrival
- Around 5 p.m. at Swaraj Round
- Corporation assistance
- Rs 3.5 lakh per team, including a Rs 1.75 lakh advance
- Fuel allocation
- 120 litres of kerosene per team
- Top prizes
- Rs 70,000 for first place, Rs 60,000 for second and Rs 50,000 for third
Quotes
Unnamed Pulikali team participant
A participant in one of the Pulikali teams interviewed by ANI
“Our team has been coming here for the past 5-6 years. We are getting ready for the first race,”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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