Mangaluru: The Pili Nalike Prathisthana has urged the state govt to provide annual assistance of at least Rs 2 lakh to every registered tiger dance team in undivided Dakshina Kannada, seeking a permanent solution to the financial challenges of sustaining the traditional art.Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Prathisthana president Mithun Rai said a request had been submitted to the chief minister, who had orally supported the proposal. “We are hopeful that the govt will announce a permanent assistance scheme soon,” he said.Around 150 registered teams participate in Dasara, Krishna Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Rai said assistance should be restricted to teams with at least five years of performance history that participate annually in their respective temple shobhayatras, ensuring funds reach genuine practitioners.Unlike kambala, where organisers often have greater financial resources, sustaining tiger dance teams has become increasingly expensive, he said.Meanwhile, Rai announced that the prathisthana will hold the 11th edition of ‘Pili Nalike’ at Karavali Utsava Grounds on Tuesday, with nine teams participating. The programme will begin at 11 am with lamp-lighting by the Karinje Muktananda Swamiji of Nithyananda Sri Raghavendra Peetha.Rai said only nine teams are allowed to ensure the event concludes by 11 pm, minimising inconvenience to residents.Since its inception in 2014, similar competitions have emerged elsewhere, fulfilling the aim of preserving and popularising the tradition, he said.Recalling a conversation with Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath, Rai said he had urged him to ensure the initiative continued, stressing that preserving the art was more important than the organisers themselves.The teams will compete for prizes of Rs 10 lakh, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh for the first three places. Six individual awards for best marihuli, karihuli, colouring, tase, coordination and akki mudi throwing will carry Rs 50,000 each, while every participating team will receive Rs 50,000.Rai said the event seeks to preserve Tulunadu’s cultural heritage and take it to a global audience.Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik, boxer Vijender Singh, actors Suniel Shetty, Rishab Shetty and Unni Mukundan, and filmmaker Raj B Shetty are expected to grace the event.Chief minister DK Shivakumar, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district ministers, political leaders and Tulu film artistes have been invited.Rai also announced that they will felicitate Commonwealth Games medallist MR Poovamma, international MMA fighter Nikhil Shetty, powerlifter Keerthan Poojary and a team that painted the Kudroli Gokarnatha temple area.Shivashakti Tigers, Talent Tigers Tulu Nadu, Mulihithlu Games Team, Junior Boys Chilimbi, Friends Bappal, Yemekkere Friends Circle, Someshwara Friends Club, Gorakshanatha Huli and defending champions Polali Tigers will participate.
