The Gods couldn’t have been kinder, for the coming weekend seems to be one filled with fun, festivities and an extra holiday. Bengalureans are heading out of the city and making a beeline to Mysore, the city known worldwide for its majestic Dasara celebrations. If Mysore is too congested and you aren’t really game for the day celebrations, then head to Madikeri, for the night festivals.
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
