Women participated in Kerala's two-century-old folk art form, Pulikali, for the first time in history in Thrissur on Saturday, The Indian Express reported. The flamboyant performance, known as the tiger play, is staged on the last day of the Onam celebrations where (usually) male dancers dressed as wild cats and hunters perform on the streets.

Four women, assistant sub-inspector NA Vinaya, school teacher Divya Divakar, fashion designer Sakkeena and Rahna Fatima joined a troupe of over 50 male dancers from Viyyur, The Hindu reported. Their participation was the result of a campaign by the Women Integration and Growth Through Sports organisation.

The organisation's president, Vinaya, said, “Many of the public festivals are just men’s celebrations owing to lack of creative intervention by women. We want to acquire our rightful space in society. We took it as a challenge," The Hindu reported. The organisation plans on launching an all-women contingent during next year's Onam festivities.