(Top to bottom, L-R) Mysore Palace illuminated during the festival, procession of Goddess Chamundeshwari's idol, elephant procession on Vijayadashami
TypeCultural, Religious (Hindu)
SignificanceMarking the victory of good over evil
Celebrationslighting Mysuru Palace, Ramayana theatre, mela (fairs), processions and parades
BeginsSeptember/October per Hindu calendar
Ends10 days later
FrequencyAnnual
First time17–27 September 1610
Related toChamundeshwari (goddess Shakti), Durga, Mahishasura, The Ramayana, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Kingdom of Mysore, the Wadiyar dynasty

Mysore Dasara is the Nadahabba (state festival) of the state of Karnataka in India. It is a 10-day festival, starting with nine nights called Navaratri and the last day being Vijayadashami. The festival is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvina, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October.[1][2][3]

The Hindu festival of Dasara, Navratri and Vijayadashami celebrates the victory of good over evil. It was the day in the Hindu legends when Goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) killed the demon Mahishasura.[4] Mahishasura is the demon whose slaying by the Goddess gave the city the name Mysuru. The Mysuru tradition celebrates the warriors and the state fighting for the good during this festival, ritually worshipping and displaying the state sword, weapons, elephants, horses along with Hindu Devi goddess in her warrior form (predominantly) as well as the Vishnu avatar Rama. The ceremonies and a major procession is traditionally presided by the king of Mysuru.[4]

The city of Mysuru has a long tradition of celebrating the Dasara festival with grandeur and pomp to mark the festival. The Dasara festival in Mysuru completed 409th anniversary in the year 2019,[5] while evidence suggests the festivities were observed in Karnataka state by the Vijayanagara Empire kings in the 15th century.[6]

History

The Dasara festivities were held in the Vijayanagar kings as early as the 14th-15th Century.[7] The exact origin of the festival and how long back it dates is unknown. The festival played a historical role in the 14th-century Vijayanagara Empire, where it was called Mahanavami and the festivities are shown in the relief artwork of the outer wall of the Hazara Rama temple of Hampi.[8][9]

The Italian traveller Niccolò de' Conti described the festival's intensity and importance as a grandeur religious and martial event with royal support. The event revered Durga as the warrior goddess (some texts refer to her as Chamundeshwari). The celebrations hosted athletic competitions, singing and dancing, fireworks, a pageantry military parade and charitable giving to the public.[10][11]

After the fall of the Vijayanagar to Deccan Sultanates, these Hindu celebrations came to an end under Muslim rulers. The Wodeyars of Mysore formed a kingdom in Southern parts of the Vijayanagara Empire and continued the Mahanavami (Dasara) festival celebration, a tradition started initially by Raja Wodeyar I (1578-1617 CE) in mid September 1610 at Srirangapatna.[12][13]

Festivities

The festivities included a special durbar (royal assembly). It was during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in the year 1805, when the king started the tradition of having a special durbar in the Mysore Palace during Dasara; which was attended by members of the royal family, special invitees, officials and the masses. After the death of Srikanta Wadiyar in December 2013, Dasara celebration in 2014 was celebrated by placing the "Pattada Katti" (royal sword) on the golden throne.[14][15][16] But since his accession to the throne in 2015, Maharaja Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar have been holding the Dasara celebration and durbar. The ninth day of Dasara called as Mahanavami is also an auspicious day on which the royal sword is worshipped and is taken on a procession involving elephants, camels and horses.[17]

A lit up Mysore Palace, the epicenter of all Dasara festivities held in Mysore

Lights in Mysore Palace

The main attraction of the ten-day Mysore Dasara festival is the Mysore Palace which is lighted daily with nearly 100,000 light bulbs from 7 pm to 10 pm on all days of the festival.[18] Various cultural and religious programs highlighting the dance, music and culture of the State of Karnataka are performed in front of the illuminated Palace.[19]

Procession

On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession (locally known as " jumboo Savari ") is held on the streets of Mysore city. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed on a golden mantapa (which is around 750 kilograms of gold) on the top of a decorated elephant. This idol is worshipped by the royal couple and other invitees before it is taken around in the procession. Colourful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called Bannimantap where the banni tree (Prosopis spicigera) is worshipped. According to a legend of the Mahabharata, banni tree was used by the Pandavas to hide their weapons during their one-year period of Agnatavasa (living life incognito). Before undertaking any warfare, the kings traditionally worshipped this tree to help them emerge victorious in the war.[17] The Dasara festivities would culminate on the night of Vijayadashami with an event held in the grounds at Bannimantap called as Panjina Kavayatthu (torch-light parade).

In Mysore, India, the Vijayadashami Elephant procession during Mysore Dasara is called Jumbo Savari (from the British during their control of Mysore State). The original name to this procession is Jumbi Savari ("going to the Shami (Banni) tree"). Now Goddess Chamundeshwari is taken in procession on an Elephant. But the "Jumbo" name is still intact.

After the Jamboo Savari, a torchlight parade takes place in the evening at the Bannimantap Parade Grounds.

Exhibition

Another major attraction during Dasara is the Dasara exhibition which is held in the exhibition grounds opposite to the Mysore Palace. The exhibition was started by the Maharaja of Mysore Chamaraja Wodeyar X in 1880 with the sole aim of introducing timely developments to the people of Mysore. The task of holding the exhibition is now entrusted with the Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA).[20] This exhibition starts during Dasara and goes on till December. Various stalls which sell items like clothes, plastic items, kitchenware, cosmetics and eatables are set up and they attract a significant number of people. A play area containing attractions like a Ferris wheel is also present to provide entertainment to the people. Various Governmental agencies setup stalls to signify the achievements and projects that they have undertaken.

Other programmes

On all the 10 days of Dasara, various music and dance concerts are held in auditoriums around Mysore city. Musicians and dance groups from all over India are invited to perform on this occasion. Another attraction during Dasara is the Kusti Spardhe (wrestling-bout) which attracts wrestlers from all around India.[21] There are other events at bannimantap where various groups do bike parades etc.

Controversy

The Dasara procession has faced increasing pressure from activists and campaigners to end its controversial use of elephants.[22][23] Procession elephants, as well as their handlers known as 'mahouts', have died from several shocking incidents over the years.[24][25][26][27]

In 2018, leaked footage from the elephants' training ground showed an elephant swaying in distress. International press labelled the video "heartbreaking", and reported on how the elephants must undergo two months of "rigorous training" in order to perform in the procession.[28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Encyclopedia Britannica 2015.
  2. ↑ James G. Lochtefeld 2002, pp. 212–213, 468–469.
  3. ↑ Encyclopedia Britannica Dussehra 2015.
  4. 1 2 Christopher John Fuller (2004). The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India. Princeton University Press. pp. 114–126. ISBN 0-691-12048-X.
  5. ↑ "400th Mysore Dasara begins today". The Times of India. 7 October 2010. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011.
  6. ↑ Dasara of Mysore Archived 16 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine, All India Radio, Government of India
  7. ↑ "WebHost4Life - Web Hosting, Unix Hosting, E-Mail, Web Design". ourkarnataka.com. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  8. ↑ John M. Fritz; George Michell; John Gollings (2003). Hampi. India Book House. pp. 46–47, 87–90. ISBN 9788175083363.
  9. ↑ P. J. Marshall (2005). The Eighteenth Century in Indian History: Evolution Or Revolution?. Oxford University Press. pp. 285 note 3. ISBN 978-0-19-567814-7.
  10. ↑ Christopher John Fuller (2004). The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India. Princeton University Press. pp. 117–119. ISBN 978-0-69112-04-85.
  11. ↑ S Sivapriyananda (1995). Mysore Royal Dasara. Abhinav Publications. pp. 73–75.
  12. ↑ Christopher John Fuller (2004). The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India. Princeton University Press. pp. 114–115. ISBN 0-691-12048-X.
  13. ↑ P. J. Marshall (2005). The Eighteenth Century in Indian History: Evolution Or Revolution?. Oxford University Press. pp. 268–270. ISBN 978-0-19-567814-7.
  14. ↑ R. Krishna Kumar (26 September 2014). "Emotional start to private Dasara". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "With no scion, the sword 'rules' at the Mysore Palace". Deccan Chronicle. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  16. ↑ "Royal Sword takes king's place at Khas Durbar". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  17. 1 2 Detailed account of the Mysore Dasara festival is provided by "Mysore Dasara - A Living Tradition". Prabuddha Bharata. Shri Sanjeev Nayyar. Archived from the original on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
  18. ↑ "Mysore Dasara, Nadahabba, Mysore Royal Festival, Karnataka State Festival". mysoredasara.org. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Mysore Dasara". inMysore.com. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  20. ↑ "All roads lead to the expo". 22 November 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  21. ↑ "Mysore Dasara - Wrestlers from around India participate in this tournament, which attracts a sizable audience". inmysore.com.
  22. ↑ "PETA for ban on elephants during Dasara - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  23. ↑ "Using elephants for Dasara procession is illegal, says PeTA - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  24. ↑ "Untimely death of Mahout Shankara: Elephant Gajendra not to participate in this year's Dasara". Star of Mysore. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  25. ↑ "'Rowdy' Ranga: Elephant who roamed Karnataka forests dies in tragic mishap". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  26. ↑ "Two mahouts killed due to elephant's liquor aversion in Karnataka?". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  27. ↑ "Here is all you need to know about the Dasara elephants". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  28. ↑ "Elephant Swaying in Distress Shows Exploitation Must End". PETA India. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2019.

Bibliography

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