📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Gramam
Entertainment
Kurampala kids revive Pulikali tiger dance for Onam celebrations
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 26 Aug 2026, 03:03 AM
👁 6
Children in the Kerala village of Kurampala performed the traditional Pulikali tiger dance during this year's Onam, marking a revival of the folk art among the younger generation.
During the annual Onam festivities in Kerala, a group of school‑age children from the village of Kurampala took to the streets dressed in vibrant tiger costumes. The performance, known as Pulikali, involved rhythmic movements, traditional drums and colourful body paint, echoing a centuries‑old tradition that celebrates the harvest season.
Organisers said the event was aimed at re‑introducing the art form to younger participants, who have increasingly been drawn to modern entertainment. Local cultural officers supervised the rehearsals and ensured that the choreography stayed true to the authentic style while allowing the children to add their own flair.
Spectators, including elders and tourists, gathered along the main road to watch the lively display. The revival effort is being hailed as a positive step toward preserving Kerala's intangible heritage, with hopes that similar initiatives will spread to other villages.
The Economic Times reported that the Pulikali revival in Kurampala reflects a broader trend of community‑driven cultural preservation across the state, especially during major festivals like Onam.
Organisers said the event was aimed at re‑introducing the art form to younger participants, who have increasingly been drawn to modern entertainment. Local cultural officers supervised the rehearsals and ensured that the choreography stayed true to the authentic style while allowing the children to add their own flair.
Spectators, including elders and tourists, gathered along the main road to watch the lively display. The revival effort is being hailed as a positive step toward preserving Kerala's intangible heritage, with hopes that similar initiatives will spread to other villages.
The Economic Times reported that the Pulikali revival in Kurampala reflects a broader trend of community‑driven cultural preservation across the state, especially during major festivals like Onam.