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.
“We are hopeful that the govt will announce a permanent assistance scheme soon,” he said. 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.
Around 150 registered teams participate in Dasara, Krishna Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. 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. 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 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. 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.