As the Dasara vacation is coming to an end, the number of tourists visiting Kodagu district is increasing.

Though there was a decline in the number of tourists visiting the district, following row over river Cauvery, the tourism has resumed its pace in the second week of October.

The number visitors visiting Kodagu has doubled over the years. According to the sources, about 3,000 tourists from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala and Bangalore have visited the district during the week end. Over 2,400 tourists have visited Kaveri Nisargadhama on Saturday and 1245 tourists have visited Dubare elephant camp. The tourists who first pay visit to Talacauvery, Bhagamandala, Abbey falls, later visit Kaveri Nisargadhama, Dubare elephant camp, jungle lodge and resorts, Bailukuppe Tibetan camp and Harangi reservoir.

Majority of the tourists stay at lodges in Madikeri and Kushalnagar, while a few go for home stays that are located at various parts of the district. Though the number of tourists visiting the district has increased over the years, the district still lacks basic facilities. The public have been demanding good road connectivity, specially to Dubare elephant camp.

The elephant camp is still the most sought after tourist destinations in Kodagu district. Hundreds of tourists from India and abroad visit daily. The camp has gained popularity in Asia itself.

Situated amidst lush green forest and on the bank of river Cauvery, this centre is a perfect getaway for the tourists coming from cities.

The camp accommodates 20 elephants at present. The Jungle Lodge and Resort has made arrangements to offer packages to the tourists which includes, studying elephants, understanding their routine life, food habits etc.

The package programme which begin at 9.30 am, allows the tourists to bathe the elephants, offer them food with the assistance of mahouts and elephant safari. The elephant safari will be open to the tourists from 10 am to 1 pm.

Deputy Conservator of Forest Dhananjay said that the Department has been stressing on eco-friendly tourism and it has been trying to disseminate information on conserving wildlife and bio-diversity, to the tourists.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / DHNS, Khushalnagar / October 07th, 2012

Huge crowds, colourful processions, all-night dancing and merry making

A view of the Dasha Mantap procession in Madikeri; (right) Chairperson of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Tara speaks at the Dasara celebrations./ Photos: nanda kumar / The Hindu

The roar of the demons piercing the darkness, incarnations of gods and goddesses slaying them to usher in peace and a sense of security, the idols of deities invoking instant reverence, all under dazzling lights on Wednesday night through to Thursday morning were the highlights of the Madikeri Dasara Dasha Mantap (decorated cars) procession as the curtains came down on the Dasara festivities in Madikeri a couple of days ago. It was a different experience for the visitors who revelled in music and wandered on the undulating terrains of the city from a warm evening on Wednesday till Thursday morning. The festivities in the city normally begin in the evenings.

Dasara celebrations had started during the times of the former rulers of Kodagu and is said to be over 120 years old. The car procession is said to have been popularised by an individual called Bheem Singh, a Rajasthani man, who had settled down in Madikeri. A big crowd from Mysore too visited Madikeri to make merry after witnessing the Mysore Dasara during the day.

The entire Madikeri city was illuminated to give it a special look befitting the occasion. The Dasha Mantaps portrayed themes of divine forces destroying evil. Gods and goddesses slaying the fire-spewing demons, scenes from mythology, all depicting the victory of the good over evil, were the hallmarks of the Dasha Mantap procession.

The Kanchi Kamaskhi temple mantap depicting ‘Manikantana Mahime’ won the first prize, Chowdeshwari temple car showing the slaying of demon ‘Darigasura’ by the ‘Saptamatrikeyaru’ won the second prize while the car from the Sri Kote Maha Ganapathy temple depicting ‘Gajamukha Katha Saramsha’ bagged the third prize. Unlike the past, only two tractors each were used for the construction of the each mantap (car) this time. Normally, the cars indulge in fierce competitions during the Dasara festivities.

Other temple cars were ‘Andasurana Vadhe’ from the Sri Kundurumotte Chowtti Mariyamma temple, ‘Sri Veeranjaneya Darshana Katha Saramasha’ from the Pete Srirama Mandira, ‘Andhakasurana Vadhe’ from Kote Mariyamma temple, ‘Kartyaveerarjuna Vadhe’ by Parashurama from the Dechur Sri Rama Mandira, ‘Seetapaharana’ from the Dandina Mariyamma, slaying of demons ‘Shumbha-Nishumbha’ from the Karawale Bhagavathi temple and ‘Moshikasurana Vadhe’ from the Kodandarama temple.

Thousands of enthusiastic people from across the State witnessed the conclusion of the grand Dasara celebrations on Wednesday evening. The Dasha Mantaps taken out from as many temples hogged the limelight even as youth danced to the lilting tunes rendered by artistes at the Ranga Mandira at the Gandhi Maidan.

The first car from the Pete Sri Rama Mandira started as per tradition at 9 p.m. on Wednesday being followed by the decorated cars of other temples. They converged on the General K.S. Thimayya Circle before starting their journey towards the Bannimantap on a common assigned route.

The city’s narrow roads were choking as people thronged the temples where the construction of the mantaps were going on before their journey towards the General K.S. Thimayya Circle. The ban on movement of vehicles of all kinds inside the city came as a big relief for the people to walk freely. Police had made separate parking arrangements at four locations to prevent vehicles coming from outside the city.

Make-shift eateries, and toy and fancy item sellers made brisk business on one flank of the Mahatma Gandhi Road (Raja Seat Road) while the youth danced to the tunes emanating from the orchestra at the Ranga Mandira. Sporadic clouds hovering above had created some doubts in the minds of the people initially, which, however, fizzled out later to pave way for a clear sky and an impeccable evening. People were heard saying that the number of visitors was less this year compared to last year. The most congested places were the town police station and the private bus stand where people sat in the galleries to watch the ‘Shobha Yatre’.

The ‘Putani Railu’ (toy train) was operated at the Raja Seat throughout Wednesday night where children and adults alike enjoyed the ride. The police had made elaborate security arrangements and the festivities went on peacefully. The State Government had granted a sum of Rs. 50 lakh for Madikeri Dasara this year.

Gonicoppa

A large number of people participated in the Gonicoppa Dasara festivities at Gonicoppa in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu on Wednesday. Speaker K.G. Bopaiah, Kodagu district in-charge Minister, M.P. Appachu Ranjan, and Chairperson of the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, Tara, were the guests.

As many as 15 tableaux were taken out on Wednesday afternoon from the APMC yard to the ‘Gonicoppa Dasara Nada habba Samiti’ stage located behind the private bus stand, watched by hundreds of people from both flanks of the roads.

Interestingly, there were two tableaux on Nityananda of Bidadi Ashram which garnered the attention of the people. The tableau depicting the pernicious effects of endosulfan bagged the first prize, M.P. Keshava Kamath, one of the organisers of the festival, said. This was the 23rd time the samiti had organised the tableaux procession in Gonicoppa.

Again, 10 decorated cars were taken out in the evening, watched by an enthusiastic crowd. Many had come from outside the town too. The State Government had granted a sum of Rs. 25 lakh for Gonicoppa Dasara this year.

Somwarpet

The taking out of the bedecked ‘Shakti Parvathi Devi’ idol in Somwarpet town from the temple in a procession for its immersion in the Anekere tank marked the conclusion of the Dasara festivities in Somwarpet town on Wednesday night.

Ayudha Puja

The Ayudha Puja celebrations too were observed in a grand manner in Madikeri, where bedecked public transport vied with each other for the prizes. Reports of Ayudha puja on a grand scale were also received from Sunticoppa, Somwarpet, Murnad and Virajpet towns.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Features> District Plus / by K. Jeevan Chinnappa / October 27th, 2012

A variety of programmes will be organised for children as part of the “Makkala Dasara” event at different venues in Madikeri on Saturday.

According to the information received here on Friday, Makkala Dasara was celebrated for the first time in the history of Madikeri Dasara. The main event would be inaugurated by Kodagu Zilla Panchayat president B. Shivappa at the Gandhi Maidan.

Madikeri Dasara Committee president H.M. Nanda Kumar and working president Robin Devaiah would be present. “Makkala Sante”, a shandy comprising groceries, would be put up by two groups of students, one from classes 5 to 7 and the other from class 8 to 10 at 10 a.m. at the Gandhi Maidan, it was said.

The Dasara Mantapa competition in which students would be required to make their own mantapas based on different themes would be held at the venue at 10 a.m.

A painting competition on “Na Kanda Madikeri Dasara” would be held at the District Children’s Welfare Council Hall (Bal Bhavan) at 10 a.m.

Competitions would be held in two categories; students from classes 6 to 7 will form the first and students from classes 8 to 10 will form the second category.

Rangoli competition would be held at the Rotary Hall for both the categories at 10 a.m.

Fancy dress competition, scheduled to be held at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan hall near Omkareshwar temple at 10 a.m., was expected to draw a good number of participants. Children from classes 1 to 4 would participate in it.

Winners of all the competitions would receive prizes. Reputed business establishments would sponsor the prizes, it was said.

Magic Show

Cauvery Kalakshetra would be abuzz with activity from 6.30 p.m. on Saturday, where magician Vikram Jadugar would present a variety of magic tricks.

Dance programmes would be organised before the magic show, it was said.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysore, October 20th, 2012

Overwhelming response to new events

Enthused by overwhelming response to new additions during this Dasara, the Madikeri Dasara Committee has decided to introduce Women’s Dasara during the next edition.

Dasara Committee Working President Robin Devaiah said that the Children’s Dasara and dasara cultural programmes, introduced this year, were a runaway hit. Now, the Committee has decided to celebrate the next Dasara with grandeur, by adding one more variety to the event–Women’s Dasara.
Giving details of the valedictory programme of this year’s Dasara, he said that Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R Ashoka, Higher Education Minister C T Ravi, MP Vishwanath, MLC M C Nanaiah, T John, Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy Chairperson Tara, Zilla Panchayat President B Shivappa and others will be the chief guests at the function, which will be held on October 24 at 10.30 am.

“Arrangements have been made for the procession of Dashamantapa. We expect over one lakh people to gather on the occasion and parking arrangements have been made for the tourists vehicles that enter the city in large number on the day. Information on parking and traffic diversion will be disseminated to the tourists and the check posts,” he said.

Speaking about the expenditure for ‘Dashamantapa’ procession, he said each Mantapa has been built at a cost of Rs 1.70 lakh.

The committee has already given cheques of Rs 1.20 lakh each to all the organisers of the Mantapas. The balance amount will be distributed on the occasion of the prize ceremony.

All the Mantapas which arrive at Banni Mantapa on time will be rewarded with cash prize of Rs 5,000. He said it had been decided to give Rs 80,000 prize to each of the four ‘Karaga dancers’ replicating Shakti Devathe. Gold coins too will be gifted as the prize for Karaga dancers.

Dasara Committee and City Muncipal Committee President H M Nanda Kumar said that the government has released Rs 50 lakh for Madikeri Dasara which has already reached the hands of the Committee.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Madikeri, DHNS / October 23rd, 2012