Tiger dancers entertain crowds at Pili Nalike

The buzz created by the drums and the ‘Taase’ filled the air as tiger dancers presented entertaining performances at the eighth edition of Pili Nalike 2023 at Urwa Maidan on Monday.

The competition, organised by Pili Nalike Prathishtana and Namma TV, continued till late night. As the team names were announced, they arrived in a procession to the stage by wielding Jhande.

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Bollywood star Suniel Shetty, Sandalwood stars Rishab Shetty, Raj Shetty, Vasishta Simha and Haripriya, motor racer Arvind K P and singer Gurukiran were the centre of attraction at the event.

The packed audience at the ground was mesmerised as the tiger dancers prowled and roared to the pulsating beat of the ‘Taase’ and the enchanting musical notes of the Vadya -- a traditional trumpet.

The dancers exhibited gymnastic moves and lifted the akkimudi (rice wrapped in straws) with their teeth and threw it backward as well.

The reverse jumps, flips and acrobatics by the artistes from each team evoked a thunderous applause from the audience. The dancers dressed as ‘mari huli’, ‘kari huli’ and ‘patte huli’ performed various stunts.

While sticking to tradition, each team came out with its share of creativity. The team members performed for the well-known Kannada folk song “Dharani Mandala Madhyadolage...”, along with popular Hindi and Kannada lyrics.

During the inauguration earlier, Pili Nalike Prathishtana President Mithun Rai said Pili Nalike is being organised to provide a platform for the tiger

dancers. “There is religious sentiment attached to the tiger dance. We want to take Pili Nalike to Mumbai so that Tiger Dance gets better recognition,” he said.

Stating that he had already spoken to Actor Suniel Shetty in this regard, Rai added that their dream is to have a tableau of tiger dance included in the Republic Day Parade so that the art form gets international recognition.”

Winners

Someshwara Friends Circle was adjudged winner at the Pili Nalike, followed by Poraldappena Mokeda Jokulu and Gorakshanatha Tigers claiming second and third place respectively.

The winners received Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh respectively. In addition, there are individual prizes as well.

Ten teams were selected to perform at the Pili Nalike. They are Maruti Vyayama Shale Konchady, Junior Boys Chilimbi, Mulihitlu Games Team, Someshwara Friends Club, Bengre Mogaveera Friends, Mangaluru Friends Tigers, Team Golden Leaf Kavoor, Mulihitlu Friends Circle, Polali Tigers and Gorakshanatha Tigers.

It is believed that the tiger dance began during Navaratri as a ‘harake’ (vow) to thank God for fulfilling a certain wish.