JOIN USPopulace of the region had mixed response to the shift of the spot from Veeranahosa Halli to Nagapura Tribal Rehabilitation Centre.
While many felt the change was good, few said the splendid celebrations of yesteryear could not be compared to this year. Gajapayana was inaugurated with elegant performances by folk and cultural troupes. Kamsale and veeragase were performed by artistes and few women carried ‘kalasa’ for the ritual.
Somanna of the village said he has witnessed the event since time immemorial and there was change in the event this year. He said there would be atleast 2000 people every year while it was not more than 300 this time. The rituals performed at the reserve forest area would be more attractive. “It would be better if the ritual was conducted within the forest itself.”
This time four elephants Balarama, Arjuna, Abhimanyu and Vijaya participated in the Gajapayana against at least six elephants in the previous years.
Almost all Tibetans of the Nagapura camp were witnessing the event for the first time.
Yengchin also had similar views. She had witnessed the Dasara procession few times but not the Gajapayana.
Ramashetty from Mysore, who is in late sixties, was travelling in the van from Mysore to Barthodi village and had to call a halt to his journey at the place as the road was blocked for the occasion. He said since his young age he had seen Dasara but not the particular event of Gajapayana.
“As a kid I along with my siblings would wonder how would the elephants carry the howdah and troop till Bannimantap. With days passing, we understood they would have been trained. But this was a unique experience of watching the start of preparations of Nada Habba.”
About 50 women irrespective of age associated with Sri Kannika Sangha, Sri Sharada Sangha and Sri Lakshmi Sangha had carried ‘kalasa’ for the ceremony since three years.
While the young lady Veena propounded that the event was better managed and celebrated in forest, an older women seemed to be happy with the new place. Ollo Gomang, 72, who resides in the Tibetan camp since 1973 said that he had seen the event many times. He expressed his happiness over the unchanged tradition.
Hamori, 81, a lady, said there was no speciality every year and even this year remained same against their hopes of something attractive with shift of place.
Many of them were newcomers and basked in the glory of the event. While elders were busy capturing photographs, many tiny tots were holding themselves back at the very glance of mammoth elephants.
For many it was a picnic time with their mats brought along, but were of no use, as they could not sit peacefully to watch the event.