Do Tigers Dance As A Part Of Celebrations? - Image Source: Wikipedia.
Are you surprised reading such a caption? Any reader can think the same way. How can tigers dance? After all it’s not an animated movie or cartoon film to see tigers dancing in row, as choreographed by their dance master. If someone wants to see such a spectacular scene, just come to Kerala – God’s own country during Kerala’s biggest regional festival – Onam that falls on August-September. If you are able to visit Thrissur, exactly two days after Thiruvonam (Fourth Onam), the whole town will be filled with tigers and leopards, and all are in a merry mood. How can it happen?
It’s a colourful folk art form associated with Onam celebrations, when males disguised as tigers and leopards make a huge procession around the Swaraj Round in the heart of Thrissur main town. It’s called Kaduvakali and Pulikali in local terms, meaning Leopards Play and Tigers Play respectively. ‘Kali’ in local terms means a sport of recreation. Such celebrations are conducted not only in Thrissur, but also across the state. But this sport is celebrated in a grant way in ‘The Cultural Capital of Kerala’ – Thrissur. It’s also associated with Attachamayam celebrations of Tripunithura. Onam is closely linked with boat race, cultural events, Kummatti Kali, Attappoo (decoration using flowers) and also Kaduvakali/Pulikali.
Artists of this sport are not traditionally trained. But there is a huge folk in Thrissur who is very much interested in performing this art form on streets every year, both kids and adults. There are no formal dance steps. Mostly tigers perform to peppy dance numbers, fast tracks of film songs etc. Quite interesting, right? Every year more than 500 ‘tigers’ belonging to different residential associations participate in the event, and the winners get trophy as well. Each group is called a Sangham and they use varnish, enamel, tempera powder etc along with different colour combinations to paint their body. So next time when you come to Kerala, definitely come during Onam season. Definitely it will be a feast for your eyes.
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This is my first time to know that tigers can dance in the form of celebration. It is like dragon dance in China during Spring Festival. However, there are so many costumes or tools that my fellowmen celebrate their own festivity. I do think the Philippines has so many festivals that people celebrate in every province.
It's dated to more than 200 years during the reign of King Shakthan Thampuram. I have watched it live......
I hope you had recorded in video. I will try to check it later on youtube. Thank you for sharing it. It also resembles the Lion Dance in China aside from having Dragon Dance. I like photos you had shared.
Just search in youtube with key word, 'Puli Kali Kerala'. You will get a few videos
Wow, dancing tigers. How nice to watch them dance. Maybe they are well trained and tame that is why they can dance. People mus be careful, who knows these tigers will become ferocious if too tired and lack sleep/
Ha ha ha... they are men Ma'am. they paint themselves and dance to pop songs as a part of our religious celebration, Onam
@Sandhya, aw hahahaha, so they are like the dancing dragons in China, Korea, Hongkong hehehe. I thought real tigers.It will be a fun watching affairs tigers dancing merrily hehehe.
Yes, there are a few more traditional art forms like Kummattikali, where people cover their body with grass which form a part of traditional festival Onam. I shall post them in blog very soon.
I have heard about this unique dance form of Kerala. our country has a rich and diverse culture and I am proud of it.
Thank You Shaloo. If possible come to Kerala during Onam season... You will be surprised to see so many things related to traditional Kerala.
Liked your work and tweeted it
Thank you Suny
I think this is an amazing culture dance and parade and how everyone dances and participates in these parades is very stunning. I have watched these celebrations a few times on the internet and it is very interesting. Tigers are beautiful wild animals and to use them as sort of their mascot is definitely a way of saying they are free and fast and furious, I think it truly fits the china people. If I had a chance to be there and experience this myself I would love to. Its interesting to see the different cultures around the world and see how they celebrate and how they dress up and what activities they do as a culture.
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