Mangaluru youth raises over Rs 50k for animal shelter while ticking an item off his bucket list

Do you have a bucket list? Well, most of us definitely have one and feel immense joy when we are able to tick items off that list.

Vishal Bhandarkar, from Mangaluru, happens to be one such person who has worked hard to successfully fulfill several of his bucket list desires – one of them being to don the ‘Pili Vesha’ (traditional tiger costume).

Pili Vesha is very popular in Tulunadu, and come Dasara, we find a lot of Pili troupes taking to the streets. While few do it as part of the vow to the goddess others don the costume to feel the surreal experience.

This also being the 100th year of Mangaluru Sarvajanik Sharda Mahotsav, Vishal decided to tick off Pilivesha from his bucket list. Shedding all inhibitions he went through the arduous process of having himself painted and stepped out to dance like a tiger for the very first time. He also followed a vegetarian diet policy, and completely shunned alcohol, for a few days before donning the vesha.

Vishal said this was not just an opportunity to tick an item off his bucket list, but also to raise money for a noble cause that he is passionate about.

“As a child, I have always been fascinated and was in awe by the traditional tiger dance, or as folks from our community call ‘Vaaga Vesu’ performed during Navratri. Those who know me would agree that I believe in trying new things, want to have alt-experiences, and strike them down from my bucket list,” he stated in a social media post while requesting family and friends to contribute any possible amount to support a great cause.

On October 14, Vishal handed over a cheque of Rs 46,131 and cash Rs 9,300 that he received through contributions to Animal Care Trust, an NGO that works for animal welfare in Mangaluru.

The NGO shared the clip of Vishal’s performance on Instagram. “We are extremely grateful and inspired by this (Vishal’s donation) gesture,” it said.

 

An adventurist at heart Vishal says that the most thrilling of his bucket list item was scuba diving while he is yet to live his dearest bucket list desire.