It will be possible to conduct Mantra Mangalya, the distinctive style of conducting a wedding advocated by poet laureate Kuvempu, in Bengaluru without much running around. Earlier, the socially reformist ceremony, which discourages lavish expenditure, dowry, and involvement of priests, was mainly associated with Kuppalli, Kuvempu’s birthplace in the Shivamogga district.
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has allotted a site measuring 30,000 sq.ft at the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Layout to the Kuppalli-based Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Pratishthana on a 30-year lease for ₹1.05 crore. A three-storey building with an auditorium having a seating capacity of 400 people is being planned for the upcoming ‘Kuvempu Samskrutika Kendra’, a cultural centre the Pratishthana plans to establish.
Apart from being a venue for Mantra Mangalya weddings, the centre will stage plays authored by Kuvempu. The complex will have a meeting hall, a library, a mini-theatre for screening documentaries related to Kuvempu and Kannada culture, and a gallery of photos on Kuvempu and his son, novelist Poornachandra Tejaswi. The plan and cost estimates are being prepared, and construction is likely to begin in November. The centre’s main objective is to promote awareness of the principle of vishwamanava tatwa (universal humanism) advocated by Kuvempu, and popularise his literary works.
Kadidal Prakash, joint secretary of the Pratishthana, told The Hindu that it was heartening to see many young people employed in corporate enterprises in Bengaluru, having read Kuvempu’s literary works, become keen on opting for Mantra Mangalya weddings. The legendary poet was a vociferous opponent of the ostentation associated with traditional weddings.
In Kuppalli, the auditorium managed by the Pratishthana has hosted many Mantra Mangalya weddings. However, as it additionally hosts cultural programmes, theatre fests and literary study camps, the venue gets booked in advance, often rendering it unavailable for weddings. Moreover, Kuppalli is 360 km from Bengaluru, deterring enthusiasts in the city from making the journey to the village.
Clean and simple
At the auditorium in Kuppalli, only the cost of cleaning is collected for a Mantra Mangalya ceremony. This keeps the wedding very economical, Mr. Prakash said. To ensure the venue does not play host to elitism, the Pratishthana also imposes a cap on the number of guests allowed to attend, in consonance with the simplicity advocated by Kuvempu. At the Bengaluru centre, too, the same practices will be followed, he added.