Onam festival concludes with 'Pulikkali

Thrissur, Sept 8 (UNI) Braving evening showers, thousands watched the traditional ''Pulikkali'' (tiger dance) by men on the streets here today on the fourth day of Onam, the harvest festival of kerala.

About 700 ''Pulikkali'' artists representing ten clubs participated in the traditonal art form of Thrissur, marking the conclusion of Onam festival.

Percussion ensemble drummed up excitement as the "big cats" moved through the crowd.

Hundreds of men and children wearing tiger-like masks with their bodies painted danced in rhythm as part of Onam festival.

'Pulikkali' is perhaps the only folk art that involves painting of the body on such a large scale.

'Pulikkali' is one of the few animal mimetic dances of primordial origin that has survived the onslaught of civilisation. It is perhaps the only folk art, which involves painting on the body at such a large level. In Kerala, Thrissur is the only place where such a festival is held on an elaborate scale during Onam.

According to folklorists, the play in Thrissur is almost a century old. Tamil speaking Muslims originally introduced it as part of the Moharram festivities. The legend of Ali, the son-in-law of Prophet Mohammed, is said to have close links to the performance.

Ali was a great warrior possessing the strength of a tiger.

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