Guruprasad
Jnanapeeth Award winner Dr Chandrashekar Kambara formally inaugurated the 10-day Mysore Dussehra by performing pooja to principal deity of the Mysore city Goddess Chamundeshwari, atop of Chamundi Hills on October 5. Since Mysore is the home town of new Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the ‘grand’ celebration is planned by the Government.
Continuing the traditional ritual, Srikantadatta Narasimharajawodyear, scion of the Mysore royal family, began the festivities by performing puja inside the palace premises in a traditional manner. He ascended the priceless Golden throne on the occasion which was witnessed by royal family members and special invitees. This process would continue until the last day of the Dussehra festivities. There was a royal procession inside the palace besides Smt Promodadvi Wadiyar also took part in the puja rituals.
As part of the Dussehra celebrations, the scion of Mysore royal family Srikanta-datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, conducted the private durbar, a tradition which is going on from centuries. Wearing a traditional attire and Mysore Peta (turban), Shri Wadiyar adorned the throne after offering traditional poojas to the Golden throne. His wife Smt Pramodadevi Wadiyar welcomed the king with arati earlier. A kanakna was tied to wrist of Shri SN Wadiyar, symbolizing that the king will not leave the palace premises until the Vijayadhashmi day, the culmination of the festivities.
All these days, Wadiyar will conduct the private durbar. This private durbar is a closed program meant only for royal family members and important guests.
People are flocking to such events with a great zeal either for participating in it or for having a glimpse of it. The important events which are drawing eyeballs are sports meets for Sports enthusiasts, Yuva Dussehra for young at heart, Poets conference, book exhibition for book lovers, Film festival for Movie buffs, Food mela for foodies, Raitha Dussehra for Farmers, Makkala Dussehra for Children, Yoga Dussehra for health conscious public, Music concerts for Hindustani, Karnatic music lovers, Heritage walk for inquisitive people and Chitra Santhe for artists.
Hundreds of students and others took part in the Heritage Walk, organised by the Department of Archeology, Museums and Heritage. The walk was inaugurated by culture minister Smt. Umashri and she also walked up to the K R circle with the participants. The walk passed through Clock Tower in front of Town Hall one of the heritage structure, Chamarjendra Circle, K.R. Circle, Dufferin Clock Tower, Devaraja Market, K.R. Hospital, and Ayurveda Hospital to culminate again at town hall. In all, more than 200 heritage structures in the city could be used for the heritage walk.
The cultural capital of the state Mysore city witnessed a huge response to the Chitra Santhe, an art market held there as part of the Dussehra festivities. Nearly 6,000 paintings by over 200 artists from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and other States were on sale at the fair. A wide variety of works ranging from wood and metal art to paintings of nature, landscapes, lord Krishna and his pranks attracted art lovers. Connoisseurs and general public made a beeline to purchase the works.
Over 1000 farmers from various taluks of the district sporting green caps and shirts, participated in a colourful procession in the city to mark the beginning of Raitha Dussehra as part of the ongoing Dussehra 2013 festivities.
Many bullock carts were seen in the procession along with six tableaux focusing on agriculture, sericulture, horticulture, organic farming, dairy farming and related fields. Also in attendance there were Nandi Kamba, an array of folk troupes performing Dollu Kunita, Veeragase, Karadi Kunitha, Gombe Kunitha and other traditional dances.
The mega celebrations would be culminated on October 14 with famous disarray procession by elephants (jambosavari – four km procession from the palace premises). This programme will be followed by the grand torch light parade at Bannimantapa grounds.
The police authority has already made elaborated security measures for all these days deploying more than 6000 police personnel. Nearly 200 special cameras have been installed at vintage points to check the peoples movement besides traffic control in and around the city during the festivities.
