Guj lion trainers to wow south Kol revelers

04/10/2016
Guj lion trainers to wow south Kol revelers
The Times of India City
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Guj-lion-trainers-to-wow-south-Kol-revellers/articleshow/54666709.cms

KOLKATA: They are known as master trainers of the king of beasts in Gir forest. They are also known for their hunting skills in the Gir region. If you have missed them in action in the `core area', you have a fair chance of chatching them in Kolkata this Puja.

Originally from Africa, more than a dozen of these tri bals will be displaying their skills at Tridhara Puja pandal close to Deshapriya Park. The theme of Tridhara this year being the hunting skills of different tribal races, the choice of this African race was obvious.In fact, a team of members of the Puja committee were floored by these hunters as they had come across them during a Gir tour six months ago. "These magnificent hunters of African origin enthralled us during our visit. We watched their hunting skills in awe and the way they befriend a lion in the core forest. They were our natural choice for our theme," Debasish Kumar, the general-secretary of the Puja committee told TOI. One of the major attractions of this year's theme will be heads of around 50 buffaloes which will be displayed in different parts of the pandal. "These heads have been chemically treated and preserved to be displayed at the pandal," said a committee member.

These band of hunters will be seen in some kind of hunting action every evening during the festival. "We have arranged special shows in which they will be participating," Kumar said. Besides this band of hunters, a pandal-hopper at Tridhara will get to watch hunting weapons of different shapes and sizes. "We have arranged for a special light and sound show on hunting skills of tribals in deep forests. Besides the African team of hunters, we have also managed to get a team from Jangalmahal. They too will exhibit hunting skills. This apart, they will also be seen taking part in cultural functions," a member of the committee said