Shreyas H S
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore
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Mangalore, Oct 3: Prowling through selective streets and homes of a concrete jungle of Mangalore, a troop donned with garb of tiger estimated as the costliest tiger group in the district, while people observe Navaratri festivities in the coastal region.
In its maiden venture, ten to twelve friends from Bikarnakatte Friends Circle (BFC), a team lead by Abhishek and Sandeep invested as much as Rs 7 lac to popularize Bikarnakatte locality and folk tradition, tiger dance, by organizing Huli Vesha (tiger dance). BFC hired 63 tiger dancers and a team of music band for a two-day dance performance through selected streets and homes, which will culminate on Saturday October 4 at Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara temple.
However, for the music band and tigers, Navaratri season seems to be a part-time highly profitable business as they demand exorbitant remuneration to the done tiger garb and musicians to steer the dance through traditional beats. The musicians demand Rs 1 lac for two days and each tiger is paid Rs 1,500-15,000 depending upon their performance.
"We have spent Rs 7 lac and much on the head gear of a tiger, for which fur of sheep (white hair for tiger's head) was imported from Dubai," said Abhishek, whose father once upon a time was a tiger dancer. The organizers have to pay different remunerations to various types of tigers, namely, Chitte tiger, Cheeta, Black tiger and others. He expressed that the money involved was the 'costliest affair' in the sector of tiger dancing in the district.
There were as many as 63 persons, mostly students clad with 53 varieties of a tiger attire. The tigers will not stray around the street as like other groups, but visit already- earmarked 12-20 places in two days. The fixed localities and homes are the acquaintances of the organizers. "We have no profit in hosting Sharadha Huli (tiger dance), but the group views the event as prestigious and puts Bikarnakatte on the traditional map of Mangalore," said Sandeep, brother of Abhishek.
The group which geared up to take to the streets on Friday October 1 was guided by Baby Kumar, a popular tiger dancer from Bikarnakatte. He was enthused to introduce his SSLC pursing daughter Raksha, who stands herself with dancing feet every time she hear music beats of tiger dance. "It is the matter of prestige to dance to the rhythm," said Baby Kumar.
He was donning a tiger attire, in his bygone days as he vowed to his deity to dance on the street. Currently his age has forced him to give up the task, but he finds satisfaction in teaching the interested.
Further, in the conversation, Abhishek said, varieties of tigers showcase their skills all through two days. While, one tiger flips in the air, another would climb the tree. The most amazing skill was pealing the hard skin of the coconut, much to the delight of the crowd, he added.
The performance of costliest tiger troop of the district culminates at Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara temple, when the temple deities are taken to around city as a part of Navaratri. The tigers move with the deities in a already prepared tableau.