Kerala: Painted 'tigresses' stride into history in Thrissur

In Kerala, for the first time in history, women donned tiger costumes and performed the much famed 'Pulikali' yesterday evening in Thrissur, amid the Onam celebrations.

Breaking the conventional gender barriers, they performed along with men on the streets, dancing to the beat of drums wearing tiger masks and their bodies painted with the face of the big cat.

The organization 'Women Integration And Growth Through Sports' along with the Viyyur Pulikali Sangham was behind the initiative to involve women in Pulikali the folk art performed during Onam season.

One of the women who performed in Pulikali was Vinaya, who works as an ASI at the police academy.

As Pulikali is the next important celebration for the people of Thrissur after Thrissur Pooram, a huge crowd thronged the Swaraj Round to watch the performance, that marks the end of the Onam celebrations.