Dasara celebrations at Munireddypalya in Jayachamarajendra Nagar (JC Nagar) is losing grandeur with the passing time. For decades the land which belonged to Parachute Regiment Training Centre has been the only place in the City where Dasara is celebrated involving people from various communities.

However, in the last few years, it is losing its sheen as the Defence personnel objected to give up their land for celebrations. This time, after the Dasara Celebration Committee moved the court, four acre land has been granted for the festival, against eight acres granted in the previous years. The Defence land is located close to Doordarshan Kendra.

“This time only two people have installed idols. Nandakumar, an auto driver of Shantinagar has installed goddess Bhuvaneshwari and another person has installed Tirupathi Venkatesha in the Dasara Mantap premises” Said Eshwar  Rao.

Mohammed Shafi, who owns a paint shop in Munireddypalya wondered  why the Defence people should have land in the City limits.

Khaleem, who runs a mutton stall there, said he has been witnessing Dasara celebration since his childhood days.

This time, the cultural programmes include folk songs by Appagere Thimmaraju, orchestra by well known music troupes, humour programme by Richard Louis and troupe and staging of a play ‘Mudukana Maduve’.

Lakshman, who runs a dhobi shop in the locality said “Ten years ago Qawwali was part of cultural programmes. None of us would miss it. The play ‘Cindrella’ was staged during the celebrations. We still have such programmes in our memory. The procession on the final day would be too long and a number of deities would take part.

Those days have gone. I am not sure whether we will have Dasara celebrations on the defence land next year”.
Former minister  Roshan Baig said “Celebrations will continue no matter however, difficult it is to get the land.

This time we have got four acres of land. It is sufficient. There are a few good officers in Defence who are cooperative”.

He said the celebrations stand as testimony for communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims in JC Nagar.

“People of both the religions join together for the celebrations. The committee has organised fireworks on the final day of the celebrations which will be witnessed by thousands”, he added.

Earlier, the public used to install many idols of goddess Durga in the Dasara mantap premises. As the land allocated this time is very less many people have decided to install goddess at their residences. 
Eshwar Rao,
Retired employee of Binnymill.

In my younger days, thousands of people would attend the celebrations. After the sun set people would come out of their homes to enjoy cultural events during Navarathri. Over the years, the celebration has been  a low-key affair.
Khaleem
Mutton stall owner

I don’t understand the logic behind keeping Defence establishments in the City limits. Neither they use the land nor they allow the public to use it.  We have been celebrating Dasara for the last 60 years. Irrespective of religion we belong to, we take part in the Dasara celebrations.  
Mohammed Shafi
Paint shop owner