Another male bastion to crumble as women to participate in

‘Pulikali’ Thrissur (Ker), Sep 17 (PTI) Breaking conventional genderbarriers, women are all set to don the garb of symbolic tigersin this year’s ‘Pulikali’ (Dance of Tigers), a famous folk artwhich has been an exclusive bastion of male artistes. Three women will take part in this year’s Pulikali, to beheld in front of the famed Vadakkunnatha Siva temple in thecity this evening. Believed to have been introduced by erstwhile ruler ofCochin Maharaja Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran two centuriesago, Pulikali, held annually as part of Onam festivities, is asymbolic representation of bravery and wild spirit. A large number of trained artistes, painted as tigers andhunters, would dance to the beats of instruments such as’udukku’ and ‘takil’. The trio — N A Vinaya, Divya and Sakheena — allbelonging to various professions and members of WomenIntegration and Growth through Sports (WINGS), an NGO, wouldtake part in the folk art along with the other male artistes,organisers said. Vinaya, a participant, said it was an opportunity for themto leave a mark in an area in which only men were till nowinvolved. "It is a beginning and we want more women to come forwardand participate in it. Organisations should also showreadiness to include more women participants in thetraditional art form," she said. Symbolic ‘tigers’, dancing, pouncing and shaking theirbellies along the road, attract thousands of people, includingforeigners here every year. A large number of spectators wouldthrong both sides of city roads to catch a glimpse of theartistes. The artistes, young and old, including a 72-year-oldveteran, will be participating wearing tiger masks and theirbody painted in various hues of tiger. The meticulous process of painting on artistes would takeat least five to seven hours. PTI LGK UD BNGVSMVV