Pulikali in Kerala

The Pulikali celebration is the most colorful festival in Kerala. Pulikali is an annual event in Kerala that involves the performing arts of colorful dances and is mainly staged in the Trichur and Palakkad districts. The art form is also called Kaduvaakali, and it attracts visitors from across the state and the neighboring region. The dancers in the fray are usually three or more, and they are dressed up in various costumes, depicting themselves as animals and other creatures. The dancers perform to the loud sound of the music, drums, and other percussion like udukku, thakil, and many more.

What Pulikali festival signifies?

The colorful display of folk art at the time of Onam in Kerala in dance and performances is called Pulikali. The art, also known as Kaduvaakali, is a 200-year-old form that the state’s artists have carefully preserved. The form is performed by trained artists who stage it to entertain the locals and visitors. The word “Pulikal” means “the play of the tigers,” so the performance revolves around the theme of tiger hunting. This folk art is mainly staged and practiced in the districts of Thrissur and Palghat.

Where is Pulikali celebrated in Kerala?

The best place to catch a glimpse of the performance is the Swaraj Ground at Thrissur on the fourth day of Onam. The make-up for the show is an elaborate affair, with the artists getting themselves ready in the late hours of the night.

When is the Pulikali festival celebrated in Kerala?

The usual time for the celebration of Pulikali is the first week of September on the occasion of Onam. The artists come up with many enactments of different forms that are indeed colorful. Pulikali is a very bright display of recreational folk art in the form of dances. The time for Onam is the perfect time to hit the state as the whole of the state remains engulfed in the festivity mood.

Venue: Swaraj Round, Thrissur
Location: Swaraj Round
District: Thrissur

If you are planning to enjoy the Pulikali festival, then check out our Kerala tour packages.