Huli Vesha
Huli Vesha: The Tiger Dance Of India The tiger dancers of southwestern India exemplify how the tigers still thrives in numerous folk arts all over Asia. Huli Vesha literally meaning - “tiger masquerade” - is a folk ritual in the coastal districts of Karnataka, India. Huli Vesha has its roots in ancient traditions where tigers were revered as symbols of power and protection. This folk dance is performed during the festival of Dusshera , it marks the slaying of a evil demon by Goddess Durga, devotees form troupes of tiger dancers. Usually the lead dancer performs the ritual a vow made to the goddess in return of a favour. The performance of the troupes goes accordingly to this procedure. Half a dozen men perform the tiger dance every day along the streets and bylanes of the towns and villages. Each performance is about 15-20 minutes and is accompanied with band of percussion instruments that can be heard from miles away. For nine days, tiger dancers, beautifully painted and ...