Pulikkali

About Pulikkali: 

• Pulikkali (Tiger Dance) is one among the folk art forms of Kerala.
• On the fourth day of Onam festival, artists paint their bodies like tigers with stripes of yellow, red and black and dance to the rhythm of traditional percussion instruments such as thakil, udukku and chenda.
• The Swaraj Ground in Thrissur district plays host to this carnival that has people appearing in various unique hues and masks.
• The main theme of this folk art is tiger hunting with participants playing the role of tiger and hunter.
• It was introduced by the erstwhile ruler of Cochin, Maharaja Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran.

Key facts about Onam

• It is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala.
  It is a harvest festival, celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of the Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham).
• The Onam lasts from four to ten days. First day, Atham and tenth day, Thiruonam are the most important of all.
• According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.
• Another key feature is Vallamkali, the Snake Boat Race, held on the river Pampa.
• Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal are two graceful dances performed by women on Onam.

Q1) What is  Folk art?

Folk art refers to traditional art forms and crafts created by people within a specific cultural or regional community, often with deep historical and cultural significance. It  is rooted in the everyday lives of ordinary people and is often created by individuals who may not have formal art training.

Source: Thrissur rocks to the rhythm of Pulikkali

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