{
  "id": 4215749,
  "title": "Keralam’s Thrissur goes wild as ‘tigers’ take the streets for Pulikkali",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/keralams-thrissur-goes-wild-as-tigers-take-the-streets-for-pulikkali",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-29T15:03:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/keralams-thrissur-goes-wild-as-tigers-take-the-streets-for-pulikkali/article71405070.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Saturday, August 29, 2026, Thrissur, Kerala came alive with the annual Pulikkali festival, a vibrant spectacle where nearly 450 human tigers took to the streets. The festival marked the end of Onam celebrations in the city's cultural capital. Despite a light drizzle in the morning, the mood remained unshaken, with the festival culminating in a colorful parade of performers from nine different Pulikkali deshams. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister O.J. Janeesh flagged off the festivities at Swaraj Round, setting the stage for an evening of drumming, dancing, and roaring tigers. The festival, renowned as one of Thrissur's biggest cultural extravaganzas after Thrissur Pooram, showcased the traditional art form with modern twists. This year, the debut of a mother-son duo from Kollam, Deepalakshmi and Yathi, added a new element to the spectacle. Their performance included a large, round belly painted on the mother's costume, which vibrated with each drumbeat, creating a unique and entertaining visual display. The festival also addressed recent controversy over the tradition, with actor and writer V.K. Sreeraman criticizing the inflated physiques of performers. However, the event underscored the tradition's evolving nature, as women, children, and transgender individuals increasingly participated, bringing new life and energy to the centuries-old folk art. Over 50 performers constituted each team, with meticulous body painting, rehearsals, and elaborate float designs taking weeks to perfect. The nine competing teams represented different regions of Thrissur, each bringing their unique flair to the stage. As the procession moved through Swaraj Round, the streets reverberated with the sounds of chenda drums, the vibrancy of painted bodies, and the sheer exuberance of the crowd, proving that Pulikkali was not just a festival but a living, breathing expression of Thrissur's cultural spirit.",
  "summary": "Rain clouds gathered overhead, but nothing could dampen the spirit as Pulikkali brought the curtains down on Thrissur’s Onam celebrations",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Man killed in wild gaur attack at Vilangad in Keralam",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/man-killed-in-wild-gaur-attack-at-vilangad-in-keralam",
        "published": "2026-08-29T11:26:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}