Pulikali
Kerala’s indigenous arts include the Pulikali (Tiger Dance). On the fourth day of the Onam celebration, performers dress in tigers’ stripes of yellow, red, and black and dance to the beat of thakil, udukku, and chenda, traditional percussion instruments. This funfair, which takes place at the Swaraj Ground in the Thrissur district, attracts both locals and tourists who dress up in colourful masks and costumes.
Participants in this folk art portray both the hunter and the tiger as the major focus of the performance is tiger hunting. The makeup for the same is claimed to be quite difficult to remove and is applied using oil paints. Nevertheless, during Onam, the streets of Thrissur draw tourists from all over the country and the world to witness this unique event.
