Once an eagerly awaited spectacle, the festival is now subject to waning interest.
The 403rd ten-day Dasara celebrations opened today with a call not to lose sight of history and traditions in the quest for science, technology and pursuit of global market interests.
This was the crux of the inaugural speech given by Jnanapith award winner Chandrashekar Kambhar, during the inauguration of Dasara in Mysore on Saturday.
“In the new social order, money and wealth have been put above all other considerations, making us lose sight of many other important values. The old social order, which saw the emergence of festivals such as Dasara, was an era of values and we will do well to preserve them”, he said.
Kambhar also expressed his happiness over Dasara being diligently followed by the democratically elected governments after the country became a republic. He also pointed out that common people were being ignored in the wake of Dasara celebrations, and urged the public to take part in the celebrations to make it a people’s movement.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah echoed Kambar, reflecting the need to involve more people in the Dasara movement.
But despite their enthusiasm, Mysore was not at its usual exuberant best during the first day of the Navarathri celebrations. There was no bhajan-singing groups of ladies from all over the state, nor common people jostling for their space to be a part of the inauguration ceremony.
“It was like any other day at the hill temple, only difference was that there was big pandal erected for the function, a folk dance performance and a few politicians in the morning,” said a local shopkeeper.
Netas have a field day
On the inaugural day of Dasara, at least a dozen events took place in Mysore at different venues – all of them were inaugurated by politicians, despite Mysore having so many film artistes, musicians, theater artists, sportspersons and achievers in other fields.
“Is there nobody in this state but politicians who was qualified to do the honours? Are the politicians end and beginning of all?” asked Raghavendra Shastry, who had come to see the inauguration of Dasara music festival at Amba Vila Palace, which was inaugurated by the Chief minister.
But in a rare gesture, youth affairs and fisheries minister K Abhayachandra Jain handed over the candle to 85 year old Gangamma of Davanagere to inaugurate the aerial joy ride event at Mandakalli airport, to light the ceremonial lamp.
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