Mysuru (Karnataka): Senior Kannada scholar and author Hampa Nagarajaiah lit the traditional lamp and showered flower petals on the deity of Chamundeshwari, marking the formal start of the ten-day long festivities of the world famous Mysuru Dasara on Thursday.
Nagarajaiah inaugurated the festivities during the auspicious "Vrushchika Lagna" by showering flowers on the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru and its royals, amid chanting of vedic hymns, on the premises of Chamundeshwari temple atop the Chamundi Hills here. On the auspicious time of Vrischika Lagna this morning between 9.15 to 9.45 am, dignitaries including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar offered pooja to goddess Sri Chamundeshwari.
Celebrated as 'Nada Habba' (state festival), the Dasara or 'Sharan Navaratri' festivities are expected to be a grand affair this year, depicting Karnataka's rich culture and traditions, coupled with reminiscences of royal pomp and glory. Various programmes will be held during these auspicious days of Navrathri, during which the palace, major streets, turnarounds or circles and buildings of Mysuru will be beautified by illuminating them with lights, fondly known as "Deepalankaara".
Nearly 6,500 artists, including those from 508 troupes from across the state, will be performing in various cultural events during the Dasara this year at about 11 different platforms.
Other than these events, the famous Dasara procession (Jumboo Sawari), Torch Light Parade, and Mysuru Dasara Exhibition are the ones that attract a large number of people, turning the city into a carnival of sorts, during the ten-day festivities. There will be no air show this year, during Dasra, according to district administration.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Senior Literary Nadoja Hampa Nagarajaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K.Sivakumar and other ministers participated in the inauguration program. Dasara will be held from today till October 12 with special puja to be performed every day. The world famous Dasara Jambu Savari procession will be held on the 12th.
As part of Dasara, many cultural programs including Dasara Film Festival, Dasara Food Fair, Flower Show, Dasara Wrestling, Dasara Sculpture and Art Camp, Dasara CM Cup Sports, Dasara Book Fair, Navratri Folk Theater Festival, Art Exhibition are also being launched today.
While at the palace too, the royal family will celebrate the festivities as per their traditions. The Navaratri celebrations at the palace include several rituals, most remarkably Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the Mysuru royal family, dressed in grand attire, conducting Khasagi durbar (private durbar) by ascending the golden throne, amid chanting of vedic hymns.
Vajramushti Kalaga', a special duel between 'Jetties' (wrestlers) armed with a Vajramushti' or a knuckle-duster, is also part of the celebrations at the palace. World-famous, 'Jamboo Savaari', a procession of caparisoned elephants carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed in a golden howdah on Vijayadashmi on the 10th day of the festival, marks the culmination of celebrations on October 12.
The procession will start from the Ambavilasa Palace premises, after the Nandi Flag Puja at the auspicious timing and offering floral showers to Chamundeshwari placed in a golden howdah by the chief minister and other dignitaries on October 12. It will end at Banni mantapa, after covering a distance of roughly 6-km.
Tableaus of different districts and cultural teams from across the state will add splendour to the procession. Elephants, which were brought from their camps, are prepared for the procession by making them walk along the streets of the city, so that they get used to the crowd, and are also put to firecrackers and cannon tests, to ensure that they don't get disturbed by the sounds.
An elephant named 'Abhimanyu', who has been carrying the golden howdah since 2020, is likely to perform the duty this year too. Dasara was celebrated by the rulers of the Vijayanagar empire and the tradition was inherited by the Wadiyars of Mysuru.
Festivities were first started in Mysuru by the Wadiyar King, Raja Wadiyar I in the year 1610. It became a private affair of the royal family following the abolition of the privy purse in 1971 and the discontinuation of the privileges of the erstwhile rulers.
However, a low-key Dasara used to be held on the initiative of the local people until the state government stepped in and the then Chief Minister D Devaraja Urs revived the Dasara celebrations in 1975, which is being followed till date.
Taking to X, CM Siddaramaiah said that Mysore Dussehra was “our real Nadahabba, which is celebrated by bringing together all the fields like religion, culture, literature, art, sports etc”.
“This festival is also a symbol of the victory achieved against the evil of falsehood, injustice, hatred and deceit. This time, as a result of what the goddess of nature has rained, the rain has turned into a very abundant rain and the harvest has spread a wave of joy throughout the country. In this background, it has been decided to celebrate the Dussehra festival this time with all the traditions. I cordially invite you all to participate in the celebration of Nadahabba and witness the glory of the festival. Happy Nadahabba Dasara to all the people of the country,” he wrote. (With Inputs from PTI)
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