11th edition of Pili Nalike at Karavali Utsava grounds on October 20

The Pilinalike Prathistana will hold the 11th edition of Pili Nalike at the Karavali Utsava grounds in Mangaluru on October 20.

Talking to reporters on Saturday, Prathistana president Mithun Rai, former Dakshina Kannada District Youth Congress president, said a total of nine tiger dance teams will take part in the event. Each team will be given 20 minutes to showcase its dance talent and other skills associated with this traditional art form, which is performed in the region during Dasara. A large tent is being set up to accommodate 30,000 spectators. The programme will begin at 11 a.m. and conclude around 11 p.m. on October 20.

Mr. Rai said that though there was considerable demand from many teams to participate, the Prathistana had restricted the competition to nine teams owing to time constraints. The participating teams are Shiva Shakti Tigers, Manjeshwara; Talent Tigers Tulunadu; Mulihithlu Games Team; Junior Boys Chilimbi; Friends Bappal; Someshwara Friends Club; Gorakshanatha Huli; Yemmekere Friends Circle and Polali Tigers.

The winning team will receive a cash prize of ₹10 lakh, while the teams finishing second and third will receive ₹5 lakh and ₹3 lakh, respectively. Individual prizes of ₹50,000 each will be given in categories such as Best Mari Huli, Kari Huli, Thowing Mudi, Taase, Bannagarike, and Best Huli. Each participating team will receive ₹50,000.

Cricketer Dinesh Karthik, international boxer Vijender Singh, wrestler Dalip Singh Rana (The Great Khali), and actors Rishab Shetty, Raj B. Shetty, Suniel Shetty and Unni Mukundan will witness the programme. District in-charge Minister for Dakshina Kannada U.T. Khader, and district in-charge Minister for Udupi Rizwan Arshad will also attend. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has been invited.

Mr. Rai said he started holding Pili Nalike in 2014. The event was gaining popularity and was now being held at nine places across Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod districts. He said he had proposed to the government that a regular honorarium of ₹2 lakh be granted to every person associated with tiger dance. Mr. Rai said he was spending from his own earnings to organise the event, with the aim of preserving the traditional art form for future generations.