Udupi: Tiger Dances Add Glamour to Ganeshotsava Celebrations

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 26 September 2012: In Brahmavara on Tuesday whole battalion of tigers had landed on the street, that too not one or two tigers, exactly 121 tigers, small, large, slim and fat tigers instead of scaring the people, they wandered every street, danced and entertained everyone.

 

The Public Ganeshothsava Samiti is celebrating its 30th year of Ganeshothsava, this time on the occasion of the visargana of 7 days worshiped Ganesha, on Tuesday record number of local youths weared the tiger costumes, danced and entertained the local people.

 

For the first time the tiger costume dance was organized here in the Ganeshothsava celebrations. Earlier 101 persons wore tiger costume in Mangalore which was a record. Now the youths of Brahmavara broke this record and created a new record.

 

This record became possible with the initiative of Gopala who is an flower merchant, and for the costumes for these 121 youths about rupees 4 lakhs were spent. This money was gathered by these tigers from the donors by dancing in three four teams at all the streets of the city.

 

In the morning the supporter of tiger costume Shiroor Mutt Sri Laxmivara Theertha Swamijiinitiated the tiger dance. Later Swameeji garlanded with the currency notes to every person wearing the tiger costume. Entrepruener Pramod Madhwaraj who was the guest gave his contribution too.

 

 

 

Tiger Dance is a unique form of folk dance in Udupi and D.K. districts that fascinates the young and the old alike. Since tiger is considered as the favored carrier of Goddess Sharada (the deity in whose honor Dussera is celebrated), this dance is performed during the Ganeshothsav and is also performed during other festivals like Krishna Janmasthami.

 

The grand Hulivesha performance  is preceded by a long body painting session. Several layers of paint is applied on the artist’s body carefully. Each layer is applied such that the end result reflects the grandeur of the carnivore. Typically the body colour is layered with yellow and black colour with occasional touching of red near the mouth. During this period which lasts several hours the artist stands erect so that the paint doesn’t get distorted.

 

Hulivesha is accompanied by the familiar drumbeat which can be heard from very far off places. On hearing the beat, herds of children flock to place where the dance is being performed and start moving with the troupe. Every child in Udupi can play the popular Hulivesha drum rhythm.

 

During the dance the artists perform many heroic acts which depict the power of the carnivore. ’Killing sheep’ is one the famous acts performed. A skillful tiger dancer is expected to kill a sheep, which means the artist holds the sheep by his teeth toss it in the air and throw it away. The sheep is not actually killed and it is only a ritual. Many such acts are performed, some of the popular ones being picking the note with his mouth by bending backwards, swinging the mace etc.

 

A normal troupe consists of 7-15 members. But there are troupes of much larger sizes also. The formal dance begins with a Ganesh pooja during the Sri Ganeshothsava. The tiger dance occupies a prominent place throughout the Krishna Janmastami and Ganeshothsava. It is a tribute to the royal cat which is the favored carrier of many gods and goddesses.

 

At a time the tiger dance was a religious art, which has become a business today. People wearing the tiger costume getting into bars and wine shops are nothing new. But as these persons who wore the costumes in Brahmavara hasve been away from alcohol and meat and has been dieting and praying since a week said Gopala .

 

Anyway the record has been created in the number of persons wearing tiger costumes. It won’t be a surprise if there will be a competition on breaking this record next year!