Mangaluru to host ‘Kudlada Pili Parba 2022’– tiger dance competition today

Mangaluru: The first edition of ‘Kudlada Pili Parba 2022’, a unique ‘pili vesha’ (tiger dance) competition will be held at the Nehru Maidan on October 2.

The contest is being organized by  Kudla Samskruthika Pratishtana, under the guidance of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath, to bring together the coastal youth.

The competition will begin at 9.30 am and will continue throughout the day. At least 12 teams have registered for the unique contest so far. Each team will have 15 members, MLA Vedavyas Kamath said.

Each team will have 20 minutes to showcase their skills in all facets of the customary Tulunadu pili vesha, featuring body art, choreography, demonstration, and the ability to lift the rice mura, a sack that weighs 40 kg, he added.

At the venue, a gallery will be built to seat around 15,000 persons. He added that plans will be made so that individuals who cannot get seating in the gallery may still view the event.

At the event, booths will be put up to sell pili vesha-related items including key chains, t-shirts with tiger images, and costumes for the tiger dance. Additionally, a booth will be set up where kids who are keen in wearing tiger costumes can get their bodies painted with watercolours. He also mentioned that going forward, Kudlada Pili Parba will become an annual affair and that a food stand will be set up for the tourists’ comfort.