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Dasara dhoom!

Shankar Bennur digs into the pages of the past and comes up with interesting information on the widely celebrated battle between the good and the evil and the special cultural slant that Karnataka has given to the Dasara festival.

The ‘City of Palaces’ - Mysore - is all set to host the 2005 edition of Dasara in all its regal splendour. The festivities have a long history, tradition, and legend.

Though the festivities are in practice since thousands of years ago, the historically authenticated information is available only from the period of Vijayanagar dynasty which was in rule from 14th to 16th century AD.

In fact, the old charm of Mysore Dasara was brought alive during the 2003 and 2004 editions. Cauvery crisis, Veerappan menace and drought had cast its shadow on the celebrations for three consecutive years from 2000, resulting in the decline of tourists to the royal city.

The celebrations were revived only in 2003 and the extravaganza brought back the same old glory of the festivities as the government laid emphasis on restoring the grand heritage, the better to woo tourists to the ‘Cultural Capital.’

Grand celebrations have been planned this year too. Several new programmes have been added to the long list of events to impress tourists on the ‘Navarathri’ days.

The city, which is also known for its heritage, will come alive, thanks to a number of attractions offered as part of the celebrations, by the Dasara Festival Committee, beginning from October 4. The festivities will conclude in ‘Jamboo Savari’ and Torch Light Parade on the day of Vijayadashami on October 13.

Organisers anticipate that as many as 40 lakh tourists are likely to witness the spectacle spread over 10 days.

What’s special

Though the festival of ‘triumph of good over evil’ (Dasara of Dusshera) is celebrated all over the country, the celebrations in Mysore are indeed very special. In fact, nowhere it is celebrated as grand as in Mysore.

According to the organisers, the festival has its origins in Hindu mythology with the legendary Pandava kings in the great epic ‘Mahabharata’ celebrating the festival as the ‘triumph of good over evil’.

But in Mysore, it has evolved into a cultural spectacle, a confluence of art, dance and drama. The grandeur of the former princely state of Mysore can be witnessed in its true sense.

The 97,000 electric bulbs which illuminate the majestic palace also lights up the lives of those who witness it.

From the pages of past

Records at the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums say that the Wodeyars of Mysore continued the celebration of Dasara after the decline of the golden age of the Vijayanagar Kings. It is learnt that the festival was in vogue even during the days of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan.

Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar continued the tradition with great pomp and splendour. In this way, the celebration of Dasara continued in a traditional fashion till 1969.

After the independence and the abolition of the erstwhile princely states, the Government of Karnataka has been celebrating Dasara as a State festival (Nada Habba), attracting lakhs of tourists.

Not many know that in 1970, when the President of India issued an order derecognising the rulers in India, the traditional celebrations of Dasara came to end.

In fact, the palace was not illuminated and the procession was not taken in that year. Only the gardens and the public buildings in the city were illuminated.

But in 1971, the government set up a committee to examine how the Dasara festival should be celebrated under the changed circumstances.

Accordingly, the government started celebrating the festival as a State festival and a prime tourists’ attraction. It also made efforts to bring back traditional aspects in the celebrations.

Jamboo Savari

Do not worry if you cannot make it to ‘Jamboo Savari’ on October 13. One can watch the 12 caparisoned Dasara jumbos in all their regal paraphernalia marching along the procession route on all 10 days.

This has been made possible for the first time to enable tourists to get a glimpse of the grand ‘Jamboo Savari.’ So watch out for those regal moments in Mysore.

Webcast of King’s celebration

The private celebration of Dasara by the royal family led by Scion Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar is very special and traditional. The events are restricted only to the family members, and their close friends.

However, the official website of the royal family - www.royalsplendourofmysore.com - will have display images and photographs of the bygone era to witness the glory of Dasara in the past. Webcasting of the private celebrations will also be done for public viewing, says Mr Wodeyar. He told Deccan Herald that the events will either be telecast live or the video recording of the celebrations will be uploaded.

In fact, the portal now has 10 GB space to accommodate more on the royal splendour. The contributions of the royal family to the art and culture are also included in the portal.

DASARA EVENTS AT A GLANCE:

*‘Aramane Sangeetotsava’ at Mysore Palace premises.

*Cultural events at Jagan Mohan Palace.

*Rangotsava at Rangayana.

*Air Show by IAF at Bannimantap.

*Sahasotsava at various locations in and around Mysore.

*Wrestling at Devaraj Urs Multipurpose Stadium.

*Pet animal show at Kuppanna Park.

*‘Kavigosthi’ at Jagan Mohan Palace.

*Dasara Flower Show at Curzon Park.

*Dasara Sports at Chamundi Vihar Stadium.

*Vintage Car exhibition at Mysore Palace premises.

*Dasara Exhibition at Exhibition Grounds.

*Yuva Dasara at Open Air Theatre at Manasagangotri.

*Jamboo Savari begins from Mysore Palace and Torch Light Parade at Bannimantap.

HOW TO AVOID QUEUES

Tourists visiting Mysore need not have to worry about lengthy queues for buying entry tickets to the prominent places of tourist importance, during Dasara 2005 as they can straight away avail entry to six prominent places of the city. This has been made possible by ‘Mysore Tourism Passport.’ The tourism passport is priced at Rs 50 for adults and Rs 25 for children. The passport holders will get free entry to popular places such as Mysore Palace, Zoo Garden, Karanji Lake Nature Park, Chamundi Hills, Brindavan Gardens and Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary.

However, the passport will be valid for a month from October 1 to 30 as it is being tried on a pilot basis, especially for Dasara. “The passport will be made a regular feature during Dasara depending on people’s response,” Deputy Commissioner S Selva Kumar, who is in-charge of Dasara celebrations, told Deccan Herald. The passports will be available from October 1 at all the six above mentioned places. Separate counters will be open there to sell the passports. The passports contain phone numbers for emergency help.