Mangaluru: The fifth edition of Kudlada Piliparba, a celebration of Tulunadu’s tiger dance, will be held at Nehru Maidan on Oct 18, with 11 teams from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasaragod competing.Organised by Kudla Samskruthika Prathisthana under the guidance of former MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, the day-long event aims to preserve the region’s folk traditions and provide greater recognition to Hulivesha performers.Mangaluru South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath said the winning troupe will receive Rs 5 lakh, while the second and third prizes are Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh, respectively. Each participating troupe will receive an honorarium of Rs 50,000. Individual awards will recognise performers portraying black tigers and cubs, besides excellence in body painting.Each troupe will get 20 minutes to perform, showcasing traditional Akkimudi tossing and Dharani Mandala acrobatic formations. Six judges will assess the performances, supported by two third umpires monitoring video feeds.“Video replay systems will be introduced to evaluate technical nuances,” Kamath said.The venue will have a customised gallery for nearly 6,000 spectators, along with large LED screens and live broadcasting arrangements. Organisers said the event will begin at 9.30am and conclude by 10pm. Arrangements have also been made for cleanliness and parking.
