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– Pulikkali –
One of the colorful cultural programs that is held during the Onam festival in Kerala is the Pulikkali – ‘Puli’ means tiger and ‘Kali’ means play. Pulikkali is a display of a mock hunting of a tiger by a hunter. What makes the Pulikali famous is the painting of the tiger done on the body of men with paunch or potbelly. Although Pulikali is performed in all parts of Kerala, the traditional and the most colorful Pulikalis are held in Thrissur District in Kerala.
Pulikkali used to be performed during the festival of Muharram, by the Muslim soldiers of the British army stationed in Thrissur before independence. Then it was known as Puliketti Kali. The soldiers danced with peculiar steps decking themselves up with paint and cloths that had an uncanny resemblance to the majestic looks and stealthy moves of the mighty Tiger.
A major Pulikali procession is held during Onam in Thrissur and is attended by several Pulikali. A small version of the mock fight between Puli and hunter is enacted in other places of Kerala but it does not have any resemblance to the Pulikali procession held in Thrissur.
– Pulikkali –
One of the colorful cultural programs that is held during the Onam festival in Kerala is the Pulikkali – ‘Puli’ means tiger and ‘Kali’ means play. Pulikkali is a display of a mock hunting of a tiger by a hunter. What makes the Pulikali famous is the painting of the tiger done on the body of men with paunch or potbelly. Although Pulikali is performed in all parts of Kerala, the traditional and the most colorful Pulikalis are held in Thrissur District in Kerala.
Pulikkali used to be performed during the festival of Muharram, by the Muslim soldiers of the British army stationed in Thrissur before independence. Then it was known as Puliketti Kali. The soldiers danced with peculiar steps decking themselves up with paint and cloths that had an uncanny resemblance to the majestic looks and stealthy moves of the mighty Tiger.
A major Pulikali procession is held during Onam in Thrissur and is attended by several Pulikali. A small version of the mock fight between Puli and hunter is enacted in other places of Kerala but it does not have any resemblance to the Pulikali procession held in Thrissur.