The cultural troupes and tableaux provided the audience a glimpse of rich heritage and culture glory of the State.
The folk artistes from across the State performed to different tunes and sounds of drums and created few magical moments at the premises of the Amba Vilas palace, even as the people present there enjoyed every moment of the biggest cultural extravaganza of the State. As Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa arrived on the stage after offering pooja to Nandi dhwaja, the procession began at 2 pm with Dasara elephants taking the lead. It was followed by the police band.
When the procession moved further, it unveiled the cultural kaleidoscope of the State. Among the tableaux, a fitting tribute to music legend Ganayogi Puttaraja Gavai, who passed away recently. A model of Gavai playing the Veena and a model Veereshwara Punyashrama and his blind students on musical instruments was a sight worth beholding. All the tableau representing each district provided a rich insight into the art, culture, heritage, history and archaeology of respective areas.
The Banavasi temple and Raja Mayura Varma of Uttara Kannada, Badami temples and Pulakeshi Vishnu temple of Bagalkot, a model on Aluppa palace of Udupi, Shivagange temple of Hoysala period with King Vishnuvardhana on chariot reminiscened the history. A Gulbarga model on Rashtrakootas presented a picture of scholars in kings Amoghavarsha and Nrupathunga.
The Uchangidurga temple of Davanagere, historic Amrutheshwara temple of Amruthapura (Chikmagalur), another model of Amrutheshwara temple of Annigeri built during the period of Chalukyas in Dharwad, the Gagan mahal or Anegondi fort, the Bidar fort came alive in another group of tableaux. The Ugranarasimha idol, Virupaksha temple and the stone chariot of Hampi (Bellary district) and a model of Rani Abbakka Devi and her fort from Dakshina Kannada district were among the important attractions of the day. The Savanadurga fort and a statue of Kempegowda of Ramanagar zilla panchayat, Navaranga Darvaja and the fort of Raichur also captured the attention of the people.
The tableaux from Tumkur district depicted the Chikkabhopala King, his fort and Madhugiri hill.
Amid the cultural troupes, the Golagumbaz and Sangeetmahal of Bijapur, the first Dasara of Urs kings at Srirangapatna (Mandya tableuax), Shivappa Nayaka and Bidanur fort all presented a peep into the rich heritage structures of archaeological historical importance.
The Savanur Nawab’s fort of Haveri and Veeramadakari Nayaka’s fort of Chitradurga, the historic fort of Madikeri, Kittur fort of Belgaum and as statue of Rani Chennamma, Raja Venkatappa of Yadgir also showcased the significance of these kingdoms.
If the model of Bangalore palace mesmerised the audience with its beautifical facade, a model of the Chamarja Wadiyar chairing the first people’s representative assembly at Mysore palace provided a glimpse into a model kingdom called Mysore.
It showed that Wadiyars were the first in the Country to introduce a democratic set up, ban child marriage, empower women with voting power and the backward castes with reservation and first to start public hospital and Gramaabhyudaya concept (progress of villages). A model of Mysore district also showcased contributions of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar to Mysore State.
