The cultural diversity of the State was in full display on Wednesday during the Jamboo Savari, the culmination of the Dasara festivities in Mysore.
A huge crowd gathered on the premises of the Amba Vilas Palace as the curtains came down on the 402nd Dasara celebrations.
Arjuna, who replaced Balarama as the howdah elephant, was the cynosure of all eyes. The majestic animal marched with the golden howdah carrying the bedecked idol of goddess Chamundeshwari.
Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar and a host of other dignitaries showered flower petals on the idol to signal the start of the Jamboo Savari, which was preceded by a colourful tableaux procession from different districts. Folk and other dance forms showcasing the cultural vastness of the State too were part of it.
The crowd included foreigners in good numbers.
‘Nandi Dhwaja puja’
Earlier, Mr. Shettar, along with Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok, Kannada and Culture Minister Govind M. Karjol and others offered puja to the ‘Nandi Dhwaja’ in front of the Sri Kote Anjaneya Swamy temple. Mr. Shettar told presspersons that that he had prayed to goddess Chamundeshwari for “more rains to usher in prosperity and peace” in the State.
Caparisoned elephants, Chaitra and Kanti, walked alongside Arjuna in their march to the Bannimanatap. The regal splendour associated with the finale was evident as people withstood the scorching afternoon heat to witness the grand show.
Anxious moments
There were some anxious moments too at the exit point when the ‘Nishane’, ‘Naupat’ and ‘Salankruta’ (caparisoned) elephants approached the Balarama Gate of the palace. People sat on both sides virtually blocking the movement of the elephants. The police had a tough time clearing the path as people were sitting on both sides of the gate, blocking the movement of elephants. A large crowd had gathered along the route, including at the Chamaraja Circle and the K.R. Circle, to witness the spectacle.
Creative tableaux
There were 36 tableaux on show which included the ‘Dasara Parampare’ from Bellary, the royal Dasara festivities in Mysore, Dasara festivities in Madikeri, ‘Holi Habba’ in Bagalkot, ‘Kara Hunnime’ in Bijapur, ‘Nagara Panchami’ in Dharwad, ‘Sankranti’ from Gadag, ‘Gowri Ganesha’ from Haveri, tribal marriage traditions from Shimoga, religious harmony from Gulbarga, musical tradition from Raichur, handicrafts from Ramanagaram, and Yakshagana from Udupi.
Performances
A variety of cultural troupes showcased ‘Veeragase’, ‘Mari Kunita’, ‘Dollu Kunita’, ‘Goravara Kunita’, ‘Hulivesha’, ‘Tamate and Nagari Vadana’, ‘Somana Kunita’, ‘Puja Kunita’, ‘Beesu Kamsale’, “Garudi Gombe’, ‘Jaggalige Mela’, ‘Karadi Majalu’, ‘Kangilu Nritya’, ‘Tamate Vadya’, and ‘Nandi Dhwaja’, among others.
Sakaala tableau
The Department of Information had taken out a tableau on the ‘Sakaala’ scheme; State Bank of Mysore took one to mark its centenary year; Tourism Department took one on handicrafts; Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd. on KRS and Kabini reservoirs; and the Karnataka State Temperance Board on the ill-effects of alcoholism.
The scion of the erstwhile royal family of Mysore, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, proceeded in the traditional silver chariot to the Sri Bhuvaneshwari temple located on the palace premises in the morning and offered puja to the Banni tree. Puja was also offered to the traditional weapons at the Banni tree that were carried in a golden-hued palanquin to the temple.
