Thursday, August 11, 2011

Pulikali in Kerala, Pulikali, Kaduvakali,Pulakali Dance,Onam Folk Dance, Pulikali in Onam, Pulakali Dance, Pulikali Kaduvakali Onam Festival Kerala,Pulikali at Onam Festival in Kerala

Pulikali at Onam Festival in Kerala
Pulikali / Kaduvakali

Pulikali is a colorful recreational folk art from the state of Kerala. It is performed by trained artists to entertain people on the occasion of Onam.

Details of the Pulikali in Kerala

The colorful display of the folk art at the time of Onam in Kerala in the form of dance and performances are termed as Pulikali. The art also known as Kaduvaakali is a 200 year old form which has been very carefully preserved by the artists of the state. The form is performed by the trained artists who stage it just to entertain the locals and the visitors. The word Pulikali literally means the 'play of the tigers' so the performance revolves around the theme of tiger hunting. This folk art is mainly staged and practiced in the district of Thissur and Palaghat.

The best place to catch the glimpse of the performance is the Swaraj Ground at Thrissur on the fourth day of Onam. The make-up for the show is a painstaking affair with the artists getting themselves ready from the late hours of the night. where Pulikali troupes from all over the district assemble to display their skills

The Appearance
Striking feature of this folk art is the colorful appearance of the performers. To get the semblance of a tiger artists paint themselves in bright yellow with patterns of black and red. A tiger mask on the face completes the get up.

It is a painstaking job and artists spend a whole night prior to the performance day on their make-up. Patience of artists must be appreciated, as most paints contain toxic chemicals which create a burning sensation when applied on newly shaved bodies.

The Play {Pulikali}

It is a wonderful sight to see humans in the guise of tigers roaming in the streets. Children, specifically take great delight in their performance as the entertainers dance, pounce and walk like a tiger. Scenes of tiger hunting goats and tiger being hunted by a human beings are also beautifully depicted by them. Beat for the dance movement is provided by percussion instruments like'udukku' and 'thakil'.


Tags: Pulikali in Kerala, Pulikali, Kaduvakali,Pulakali Dance,Onam Folk Dance, Pulikali in Onam, Pulakali Dance, Pulikali Kaduvakali Onam Festival Kerala,Pulikali at Onam Festival in Kerala









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