A Glimpse Into The Way Of The Tiger At The Thrissur Pulikali
- 23 Sep 2016
- Noel Alex
- Features
The Thrissur Pulikali is the biggest show of its kind in Kerala. Participants from 8 regions of Thrissur come together to celebrate this event in all its splendour. Over 500 tigers roam at Thrissur Swaraj Round. Rather than a mainstream coverage of the event, our photographers dived behind the scenes to experience the transformation of a man to the mighty tiger.
There is nothing more majestic than the tiger, he says.
He understands every stroke it takes to paint this animal.
This knowledge has given him a greater appreciation of its beauty.
The monsters that men create, in folk songs and fables
are gore and hideous in their appeal.
It takes a great artist to make a beast look so stunningly beautiful.
It’s no surprise that that artist is God.
It’s not easy to bear your naked body in the scorching sun.
But they do it every year.
You need to have an attitude and an iron clad will to do so.
If you want to play the beast, you have to be a beast
He watched his first pullikali at the age of 7
and grew up to become a part of it.
Now there is no Onam without it, he says.
He looks forward to dancing with his son one day.
Life goes on, it's important your culture rides along with it.
They shave all their body hair.
The base coat is applied and it takes hours to dry.
To finish the paint takes a few hours more.
All the while standing still,
with their arms wide,
and their feet a foot apart.
How do they do it?
Copious amounts of toddy
and uncompromising devotion to their tradition
Kerala is now being dominated by the western influence.
Festivals like these are a refreshing way to connect to our roots.
A way to relive our ancestral memories.
At the end of the day,
after all the torturous hours of preparation,
they dance to their hearts content.
At the very roads their forefathers did,
and what a dance it is.
Text: Noel Alex
Images: Midhun Vijayan
