Before the tigers take over the streets of Thrissur, they have to be painted.
For hours, artists cover performers’ bodies in yellow, black and red stripes. Masks go on, drums begin to beat, and on the fourth day of Onam, the ‘tigers’ dance through the Kerala city, prowling and pouncing before cheering crowds.
These tigers are people, of course. But the animal they imitate has held a special place in local celebrations for generations.
The tradition is called Pulikali, meaning ‘play of the tigers’. And hundreds of kilometres away, along Karnataka’s coast, another tiger dance carries stories of fear, admiration and protection.
Together, these traditions offer a fascinating glimpse into how communities have understood and lived alongside the wildlife around them.
How did tigers become part of Onam?
Thrissur’s Pulikali is believed to be around 200 years old. Its beginnings are often traced to Sakthan Thampuran, who ruled Cochin from 1790 to 1805.
Historical accounts offer different explanations of how the dance developed, reflecting the many cultural influences that shaped Thrissur’s public celebrations.
Today, on Naalaam Onam, trained troupes gather with their bodies painted as tigers and leopards. They dance to the beats of traditional drums such as the chenda, thakil and udukku, sometimes acting out hunters pursuing tigers.
Preparing for the performance takes hours of painting and practice. For the crowds that gather in Thrissur, the result is a celebration that brings the tiger into the heart of the city, year after year.
Artists spend hours having their bodies painted in elaborate tiger or leopard patterns before dancing to percussion instruments such as the chenda, thakil and udukku. Photograph: (Manojk)
Why do people in coastal Karnataka dance as tigers?
Along Karnataka’s coast, particularly in the Tulunadu region, a similar tradition called Pilivesha, also known as Hulivesha, brings painted tigers into the streets during annual celebrations.
Performers paint their bodies in striking tiger patterns and dance through public spaces, keeping alive a tradition that has been passed down through generations.
But what makes the tiger such an important part of these celebrations?
The answer lies partly in the stories people have told about the animal for generations.
In local folklore, the tiger has long represented strength, courage and protection. It has also been an animal people feared, particularly in places where communities lived close to forests.
This relationship caught the attention of researcher Rohan Sharma.
In a 2024 report for the Wildlife Conservation Society–India, Sharma spoke to performers, organisers and experts to understand Pilivesha’s place in local life.
His research explored how the tiger became a powerful cultural symbol and how stories about the animal have influenced the way communities understand wildlife.
The dance offers a window into the beliefs, memories and traditions through which people have connected with wild animals for generations.
Pilivesha documents a cultural relationship through which the animal occupies a place in community life beyond its biological presence in the landscape. Photograph: (Karthy shty)
Can these dances change how we see wildlife?
Admiring a tiger during a festival is different from encountering one near a village, where people may fear for their safety or livestock.
There is no evidence that performing Pulikali or Pilivesha directly prevents conflict with wild animals.
But these traditions remind us that people’s relationships with wildlife have histories of their own.
Sharma’s research suggests that conservation efforts can benefit from understanding local beliefs and listening to communities, alongside protecting habitats and addressing real safety concerns.
After all, people who have grown up hearing stories about tigers may understand the animal differently from someone who has encountered it only through books or documentaries.
When the drums stop and the paint comes off, the festival ends. Yet the stories remain, passed from one generation to another.
And perhaps that is where these tiger dances offer their most meaningful lesson. By understanding why communities have long feared, respected and celebrated the tiger, we can begin more thoughtful conversations about sharing our world with wildlife.
