Another male bastion crumbles as women take part in ‘Pulikali’

Three women, dancing to the tune of “Puli melam” in the attire of tigers, take part in the centuries-old Pulikkali fest in Thrissur. (Photo: Asian Age)

Four women “tigers” created history by participating in the centuries-old Pulikkali fest in Thrissur for the first time on Saturday.

N.A. Vinaya, ASI at Kerala Police Academy, Divya Divakaran, a higher secondary school teacher from Nilambur, E. Sakeena, a fashion designer from Kozhikode representing Viyyur Desam, and Rahna Fatima of Ayyanthole Desam, in the attire of the tigers and dancing to the tune of “Puli melam” attracted the attention of everyone at the fest. They danced continuously for four hours like their male counterparts. A large number of women had gathered at Viyyur, the venue of Pulik-kali, to watch the tigresses as they came out of the auditorium of the Viyyur Manalarumkkavu temple.

The organisers of the event said that there was an unprecedented increase in the number of women attending the show due to the participation of women in the Pulikkali.

There was suspense about the costumes of the women artists. The trio, who wore clothes painted with strips like tiger, was welcomed by spectators.

Though the police had offered special security for the trio, they refused it and came out with a posse of women volunteers.