Pulikali in Thrissur: How the 'tigers' protect their skin during the iconic festival

The vibrant festival of Pulikali, also known as the ‘tiger dance’, takes centre stage today in Thrissur, Kerala. With around 400 participants dressed as tigers from seven different groups, known as desams, the performers are all set to entertain crowds with their rhythmic dance from 4 PM onwards. The desams aka groups are Seetharammill Desam, Chakkamukk, Viyyur Desam, Viyyur Yuvajana Sangham, Shankaramkulangara, Kanattukara, and Patturakkal. One of the festival's main attractions is the intricate tiger face art painted on the performers' bodies. Applying the paint or meyyezhuthu begins early morning on the pulikali day, with the desam members helping the participants turn into ferocious pulis. Regardless, how do these ensure the paints are irritation-free and gentle on the skin? Know more:

How the pulikali paint is made
In the earlier times, natural colours like charcoal and indigo were apparently used to decorate the performers. However, today, enamel paint has taken over as the primary choice. Nikhil, an artist from Viyyur desam, explains, “Combining enamel paint with gorilla powder and varnish gives us the mix with the right texture and sheen. The process requires rapt attention, as improper mixing can make the paint unusable.” A few of the performers also apply coconut oil to their bodies before the paint is applied for skin protection. “However, this can delay the drying process,” notes Senthil, a pulikali artist.

Removal of the paint and further skincare
Once the pulikali performances are over, a familiar scene unfolds in Thrissur as the ' tigers' sit down near their desam tents, scrubbing the paint off their bodies. According to Premji, a pulikali artist, this process hasn’t changed much over the years. “Kerosene is commonly used to help remove the paint, and the Thrissur Corporation provides around one liter of kerosene per participant. If the participant is plus-sized, more kerosene is given,” he says. Removal of the paint can be challenging for those with sensitive skin. Francis Olari, an artist from Viyyur desham, says, “It’s particularly difficult for performers with wrinkles or rough skin. Although no special skincare measures are typically taken, some performers can experience mild skin irritation, later.” Sherin, another pulikali artist, observes, “Moderate weather conditions are ideal for the performance, as too much sun or rain can cause discomfort to perform with the paint.”