Thousands including foreign tourists celebrate 'Pulikali' carnival

Thrissur, Sep 15 (UNI) Tens of thousands of people, including foreign tourists, witnessed ''Pulikali'', the annual carnival of Thrissur held today to mark conclusion of the Onam celebrations.

A large crowd, including women and children, enjoyed the 'pulikali' performance in which nearly 800 people, painting themselves like tigers, danced to the beat of drums.

The procession, which also consisted of several tableaux, went around the main areas of the city.

The carnival, a secular event, was sponsored by Kerala Tourism Department and Thrissur Corporation.

An 11 year-old girl also performed the 'pulikali' as part of one of the 13 teams, which participated in it.

Stephen Gates, a BBC reporter from London, also got himself painted as a tiger and joined the procession as part of the Keerankulangra team.

Expressing happiness at being able to take part in the carnival, Mr Gates said getting his body painted with the yellow and black stripes of a tiger was ''uncomfortable''.

He said he would come again next year with his family.

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