Dasara tableaus on social issues give food for thought

Tableaus portraying the ill-effects of smoking and alcohol, air crash, victims of wrong medical prescription, death of elephants etc touched the hearts of the people. The themes were rightly chosen in a way that they remained with the spectators even after the tableaus passed by.

Most of the tableaus depicted major events and burning issues of the current year. A tableau by Yarava Jananga Okkuta of Ponnampet on the theme- ‘life of Scheduled Tribes on the trees even after the 63 years of independence’ literally mocked the civil society.

The tableau effectively described scenes from the lives of STs who are compelled to sleep on the trees fearing elephant attack, suicide attempts by ST families owing to financial crisis, effect of the same on children, conversion, false promises made by the politicians and various other problems faced by the tribals clearly depicted the anguish of community members.

A tableau by Ponnampet Mahathayi Purushara Swasahaya Sangha called upon the people to stop using chemical fertilizers. It portrayed and promoted organic farming for healthy  life. This was appreciated by the people.

A tableau by Aruvathikkalu Sharadamba Dasara Samithi exposing the lives of poverty-stricken families owing to alcohol addiction won applauds from the people.

‘Nava Desha Shringarisuvathha Samiti’ staged a tableau opposing the construction of railway track in Kodagu as it would harm the flora and fauna of the region. To stress on the same cause, they portrayed the recent tragic death of herd of elephants in West Bengal.A tableau on Mangalore air crash by Nethaji Youth Group and Gonikoppa Desha Premi Youth Association, tableau promoting harmony and integrity by Navachethana Dasara market committee too bagged good response.

Fourteen tableaus participated in the procession that was inaugurated at RMC premises. The procession was started at 2.30 pm was affected by heavy rain while on its way to Palibetta Road. Various traditional instruments too accompanied the procession.
An elephant led the procession by carrying portrait of goddess Cauvery.

Dasara dolls too were the centre of attraction. Cauvery Dasara Committee President Koppira Sanni Somaiah inaugurated the procession. Dasara cultural committee President M P Keshav Kamath, office bearer Girish Ganapthi and others were present on the occasion.