For generations, the Dasara festivities in Mysore have been the crown jewel in the city’s history of celebrations.

While in the yesteryears the king rode across the city on an ornamented elephant, now a beautiful idol of goddess Chamundeshwari sits on a gold throne (howdah) that is carried by a pachyderm throughout the city. Vikram Simha, who works as a quality regulator at an MNC says that this year, grandeur is an understatement for the festivities. “All the major circles in the city are lit and the patterns used for the illumination are very different from those done in the past. The city looks gorgeous bathed in the warm glow of the lights,” he describes. This year Vikram says that he is going to Mysore to explore the photography avenue. Vijay D, a businessman from Bengaluru who studied in Mysore cautions travelers, saying that unless hotels are booked in advance, chances are they will be no rooms available. “I am going with my wife this year. I am looking forward to the procession where different districts of the state carry out representations characteristic to their area, much like what is done during the Republic Day Parade,” states Vijay.

While the preliminary festivities offer a bounty of options for the shutterbug, the final day, that is on Monday is the grandest of the celebrations. That is when the golden howdah is prepared for the city procession. Pushpa Ramanna a homemaker traveling to Mysore with her family says, “It is my daughter’s 10th birthday and we want to ring it in as a part of the regal gala,” says the mother. Vikas Jindal another businessman says that in the three years that he has been in Bengaluru, he has only heard tales of the festival. “This year I am heading to Mysore with my friends and I can’t wait to see the Mysore Palace. I believe it is lit beautifully. We might head to Madikeri after Mysore given that it is barely a two hour drive,” he reveals.

On Monday night post 6 pm; processions will hit the main road in Madikeri from 10 different mandaps and temples. The gaiety which will be a mélange of lights and jubilation will continue till 6 in the morning. Anil HT, one of the organiser of the Madikeri Dasara says that on Monday no vehicles will be allowed into the city but there are arrangements made for parking facilities. Umesh, a lawyer from the city alternates between Mysore and Madikeri every year. “We chose Madikeri because it is less crowded, the weather is better and we have a friend’s house there. So there is no problem with lodging,” says the lawyer who celebrated Dasara in Mysore last year.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Lifestyle> Offbeat / DC / by Zoya Philip / October 13th, 2013

The 80th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana will be held in Madikeri in the hope that it would rejuvenate the language in Kodagu district, where the language is losing ground, Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) President Pundalika Halambi said on Thursday.

He was addressing a press conference to unveil the logo for the Sammelana scheduled from January 7 to 9 at Field Marshal Cariappa College Grounds there.

“There is a big concern that Kannada is losing its ground in Kodagu, that Kannada has become a minor language leading to a hostile environment. We decided to take the Sammelana to Madikeri to address this concern and to reiterate that Kodagu is an important part of the State,” Halambi explained.

The logo depicts Talacauvery and other tourist attractions in the backdrop of the Karnataka map.

“It is imperative to rejuvenate the Kannada culture in Kodagu, which has taken a beating because some people have turned it into a recreation centre,” he said.

Public Works and Kodagu District Minister H C Mahadevappa, who unveiled the logo, said accommodation will be arranged for close to 4,000 people for the meet.

“We want people to register (representatives) before December 15. Local hotels and homestays have agreed to give us two rooms each,” Mahadevappa, who heads its Reception Committee, said.

He said the Sammelana is expected to cost around `2.5 crore. “The budget provided for is about `1 crore. We also managed to have the CM give us another crore,” Mahadevappa said.

Madikeri will be playing host to the annual literary meet for the third time after the meets presided over by poet D V Gundappa in 1932 and researcher Shamba Joshi in 1981.

Staff, Centenary Building Sought

Halambi openly pointed fingers at the government for showing little interest to support the iconic institution that will turn 100 next year.

He said the Parishat had made several representations to the government to fill vacant posts. “Our human resource strength was 48 a few years ago. Now, we are down to 13. We will soon be reduced to just three people if the government doesn’t do something,” he said. He also appealed to Public Works Minister H C Mahadevappa to urge the government to construct a centenary building for the Parishat.

“We will turn 100 next year, which is a proud feeling for us. I hope the government does its bit to promote the heritage of this institution,” Halambi added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Express News Service – Bangalore / October 11th, 2013

Four Shakthi Devata Karagas were taken out in a procession

Historic Madikeri Dasara started off in a grand manner on Saturday with the traditional ‘Karaga utsav’ of the four Shakti Devatas viz Kundurumotte Chauti Mariyamma, Dandina Mariyamma, Kote Mariyamma and Kanchi Kamalakshi.

Rituals were performed at Pampinakere in the evening and the karagas were then taken for rounds in Madikeri amidst recital of hymns. The Karaga Pradakshina will be held for nine days of Navarathri and on the night of Vijayadashami, after the Dashamantapa sets out for procession.

‘Banni’ will be cut at the banni mantapa thereby ending the Karaga utsav.

Dasara Utsav Committee working president K M B Ganesh, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari, SP N M Anucheth, ZP CEO K B Anjanappa, Dashamantapa committee president Vinod Kumar and others were present.

A mass pooja was performed at Banni Mantapa. Later, pooja was offered at Pete Sri Rama Mandira.

History

Folklore has it that the people of Madikeri suffered from a disease a century ago. So the people of the region vowed to offer pooja to Shakthi devatha to ward off the disease. As a result, four Shakthi Devatas are take out in a procession during nine days.

Devotees will offer pooja to the Karagas while passing through different streets.
All those who carry Karaga on their head follow ‘vratha’ for one month. Members of Yadava community carry Karaga on their head. Ex servicemen A Umesh has been carrying Dandina Mariyamma Karaga since 1974. “This is my 40th year of service,” he said.

Poojary Chami and Ramesh brothers have been carrying Kundurumotte temple Karaga for the last several years. Naveen carried Kanchi Kamakshi Karaga and Poojary Anush and his brother Umesh Subramani carried Kote Mariyamma Karaga.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by DH News Service / Madikeri – October 04th, 2013