Cool Cats, a photo from Karnataka, South

Photographer's Note

I met these boys and young men in the city of Mangalore on the Indian west coast in the state of Karnataka. They were celebrating the Hindu festival Dassehra (as usual several spellings are available) by dancing in the street painted like some kind of strange cats.

I was reminded by my diary from that journey in 1988 that during the day I met several similar groups painted like animals or Hindu gods.

I made horribly useless scans of this photo and those in the WS years ago, so I was happily surprised that my latest attempt turned out almost perfectly. I was convinced once again that properly stored Kodachrome slides never fade.

Mangalore (now officially Mangaluru) is situated just north of the border with Kerala state. I arrived here after a long train journey from Ernakulam/Kochi. I had no map of the city and was told that no maps existed, so I spent hours walking more or less aimlessly with no idea where I was, just keeping an eye on the direction of the sun and the sloping streets indicating the way towards the sea, which was not seen from inside the city. Somehow I didn't get lost.

I noted in my diary that Mangalore was "not unpleasant, but there are absolutely no interesting sights. It's actually a remarkably anonymous city with a total lack of character".

Mangalore was obviously very much off the tourist track, so understandably there are comparatively few photos from here on TE, at least very few photos actually taken in the city.

I was only there for two nights and a day, including an afternoon visit to the nearest beach, so it wasn't really any waste of time.

Two alternative pictures of the dancing wild cats are in the WS.

ChrisJ, Fis2, ikeharel, Royaldevon, jhm, ktanska, PaulVDV, worldcitizen, PiotrF, pierrefonds, COSTANTINO, clic, adramad, GyurMaster has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

pajaran (115025) 2021-10-01 0:28

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled i trenutak, intereantan i dobar tekst ...
lepa scena sa festivala, dobro pokazana grupa decaka sa svojim maskama i ukrasima na telu, lepe boje i kontrast, dobro uhvacen trenutak.
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografijama u radionici.
lepe fotografije i secanje.

Zelim vam lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje.
Paja

Fis2 (169847) 2021-10-01 0:31

Witaj Gert my neighbour today :)!
Interesting set of photos, curious place.
Amazing scene, view is impressive.
Good framing, colors and light.
Excellent reporter's work.
I like it.
Good morning.
Krzysztof

ChrisJ (171340) 2021-10-01 0:32

Hej Gert

This one should survive the 'no cats' rule in the terms of service! A colourful group of young men dressed as cats. Some of them even have tiger stripes. A superb daily life scene with good sharpness. Tfs!

ikeharel (112521) 2021-10-01 0:34

Three "powerful" photos, Gert.
A unique pictures from the colorful disguised participants, in a styled posed.
Excellent scanned old stuff.
Have a nice friday,
Ike

Tue (91658) 2021-10-01 1:18

Hej Gert,
Et godt billede med drengene og mжndene med deres blеlige maling og andre katagtige dekorationer. De stod der en noget klart sollys. De mange tilskuere er godt kommet med i baggrunden.
Lars

Royaldevon (85674) 2021-10-01 3:48

Hello Gert,

Your skill in scanning has definitely improved and these photographs are a credit to you! They are so sharp, with bright, true colours!
I love these shots of the young men partying very much like young men party in the west but for different reasons!

I looked at the other photographs posted from this region and you are right, apart from a St Lawrence building, there is nothing of significance; all the photographs are of the people!

Have a good w/e,
Bev :-)
Thank you for your critique of my photograph.

Silvio1953 (220717) 2021-10-01 3:59

Ciao Gert, nice scene with a lot of people trasformed in cats, fine details, splendid light, excellent clarity and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

jmdias (114360) 2021-10-01 8:36

gert

these images are perfect despite the years. looks like they are tigers in the back and ghosts in the frontal part. excellent moment so well registered by you.
I remember once I was in Bombay and I was in the hotel and despite I have a map, I couldn't find the names of the streets on it and I was lost and used the sun too.

take care

jorge

lousat (138683) 2021-10-01 9:49

Hi Gert,one of the many surprises that you have encountered in this Hindu festival, here the thing is very much felt and it is the occasion for a big party and perhaps to forget the problems and poverty. Passers-by are very interested and amused. Living paintings of the highest level, and also the quality of the 3 photos is really excellent, the many attempts to digitize the slides have given excellent results. Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

jhm (211734) 2021-10-01 10:38

Hello Gert,

Lovely celebrating the Hindu festival Dassehra dancing in the street painted like some kind of strange cats.
What a nice idea with this picture, certainly very nice too
Sharpness and clarity make your image lovely.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards
John.

ktanska (44492) 2021-10-01 11:30

Hej Gert,
Quite wild looking free style body paintings. Making those has been quite an effort and the result looks good. I was surprised to see this is from the 80's. Somehow this looks much more modern.
Kari

PaulVDV (62810) 2021-10-01 12:07

Hello Gert,
I confess that I do not know the festival Dassehra nor have I ever seen men painted as cats.
It really does seem very special.
The paintings on their bodies are very well done and they also wear matching loincloths.
Glad they welcomed a photographer and had no financial intentions involved.
Your pictures are very successful. It may be that you have to learn how to scan photos and you have mastered it in the meantime.
I was never in Mangalore or the far north of Kerala. But I remember travellers with a lot of time who went to the coast of northern Kerala because there would be beautiful deserted beaches and still reasonable accommodation options. I'm not sure anymore but I think they were talking about Kannur.
Best regards, Paul

worldcitizen (15970) 2021-10-01 14:07

Hello Gert,
This photo grabbed my attention right away! The body paint on these cool cats is very impressive. This must have been a great scene to stumble upon. I like the pale blue color of the wall in the background, too. Take care!

PiotrF (54246) 2021-10-01 16:16

Hello Gert,
Interesting serie of photos from the Hindu festival Dassehra.Interesting description and the colors are great indeed. Good quality even though the slides are thirty years old.Your archive is incredibly rich.Fine presentation
Regards
Piotr

pierrefonds (113676) 2021-10-01 17:24

Hi Gert,

You have captured well aq daily life scene. The point of view is showing the details of the costumes of the persons. The light is bringing out the colors. Have a nice dya.

Pierre

mcmtanyel (67757) 2021-10-01 17:40

Hello Gert,
Interesting catch, fresh as the day they were taken.
Regards,
MT

ifege (47069) 2021-10-01 21:23

Hi Gert
Definitely a good scan. 3 good interesting photos from this Hindu festival.
cheers
Ian

Gerrit (62042) 2021-10-02 9:41

Hello Gert,
what an interesting outfit of these celebrating group. You managed the harsh light very well
thanks and regards,
Gerrit

jean113 (27639) 2021-10-02 11:45

Hello Gert, the young men and the boys are superbly painted, it must have taken an age for the painting to be done.
Three wonderful pictures.
I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like this before. The quality of the pictures is excellent.
I wonder if this tradition still continues?
Kind regards, Jean.

COSTANTINO (115605) 2021-10-02 22:17

Hello dear Gert and have a nice day
and a happy Sunday
signs of celebrations
and traditions during
a festival...
nice timing for you
your effort for a better
photo was succesful
well done
regards
Costantino

BennyV (34746) 2021-10-04 4:44

Great shot of these local hipsters! Thanks for sharing this cool picture, Gert. All the best & cheers

Benny

Ilonka1974 (10289) 2021-10-04 12:57

Hi Gert,
Amazing scene and perfect capture.
Excellent colors, light and sharpness.
Congratulations
Best regards
Janusz

clic (76) 2021-10-06 9:36

Hallo Gert
Since mostly all of these hoofers are glancing at the camera while stretching out hands towards me at each side of the picture, I can't refuse to willingly join their festive round dance despite my age!!
Basta halsningar

adramad (72592) 2021-10-08 11:05

Hi Gert,
A sensational photo with these protagonists of the party, who go with their bodies painted in a very original way, without a doubt their costumes are reminiscent of cats.
Splendid scan quality after so long.
A fantastic photo, with beautiful natural colors, very good lighting and excellent sharpness.
Very well done. Love it.
Enjoy the weekend.
Very best regards.
Luis.

GyurMaster (24682) 2021-10-11 1:24

Dear Gert,

As I see I have missed this gem. Apart from the very strange outfit of these people, the colours of the Kodachrome are really nice. By the way you mention the 'proper store' of Kodachrome slides. Can you please describe it? I have a lot of slides too, maybe I could improve my storage practice.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

kasianowak (17672) 2021-11-27 5:05

Wow and wow again. Indeed, absolutely not a waste of time if you can get 3 fantastic, colourful and dynamic photos of this fascinating festival!