Mysuru is all decked up for the 414th Dasara festivities, the 10-day-long celebration is to be held from October 15 to 24, the centuries-old tradition is a blend of history, culture, and tradition. The Dasara is a state festival that is also popularly referred to as ‘Naada Habba’.
This year music director Hamsalekha inaugurated the festival at Chamundi Hills in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The festival attracts nearly five million individuals from around the world. Last year, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the festival by paying tributes to Chamundeshwari Devi.
Legacy of Wadiyars
This ten-day festival observed by Hindus in the state of Karnataka symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. The festival’s legend revolves around the Hindu Goddess Durga, also known as Devi Chamundeshwari, who vanquished the demon Mahishasur on the festival’s tenth day, known as Vijayadashami.
On Vijayadashami, the renowned Jamboo Savari i.e. the elephant procession, also known as the Mysore Dasara procession, takes place on the streets of Mysore city. The trained elephants are adorned with colorful attire, and they walk through the streets. The idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari is placed on a golden mantapa on the top of a decorated elephant. This grand event commences at the Mysore Palace and concludes at a location known as Bannimantap, There is a display of various performances like traditional dances, musicals, and displays of swordsmanship throughout the procession.
The grandeur of the Mysuru Dasara reached its peak during the rule of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar from 1902 to 1940. The festival received royal patronage from the Wadiyar rulers. The events of the festival have also been mentioned in the works of travelers like Abdur Razzak, Domingo Paes, and Fernavo Nuniz who visited the Vijayanagara Empire.
Some of the notable events in present times include the Torchlight Parade, Mysore Palace Lightning,Doddakere Maidana Exhibition, Jumbo Savari, and Dasara Wrestling.
Mysore Dasara is also the reflection of the Navratri festival which is celebrated all over the country in slightly different ways, like Navratri of Gujarat and Durga Pooja of West Bengal. The state government of Karnataka is also aspiring to bring UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage tag for its Mysuru Dasara festival, which will help in further promoting tourism, which is a key economic driver of the region.
[…] in Karnataka coincides with Mysore Dasara; the festival is dedicated to the goddess Chamundeshwari of Chamundi Hill. At this time, the Mysore […]