Mandya: The decision of the Mandya district administration to go ahead with the annual Dasara celebrations in Srirangapatna sans all the traditional trappings – the fete has been scaled down in view of the
Covid-19 crisis – has triggered outrage among citizens and historians. The people are none too pleased with traditions being given the short shrift, which they deem a violation of historical conventions, in the celebrations being organised this year.
Their chief grouse is with the changes made to the manner in which the Jamboo Savari will proceed this year. Traditionally, the savari starts at the Srirangapatna palace and end at the Bannimantap, where historically the maharaja offered puja to the shami tree, which signalled the end of the celebrations. However, the authorities have chosen Bannimantap – historically the terminating point of the Jamboo Savari – as the starting point of the procession. The procession will end at the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple.
Historians have pointed out that the maharajas, who initiated the
tradition of the ‘Naada Habba’ in Srirangapatna before the ritual celebration was shifted to Mysuru, cut a branch from the shami tree that was then taken home to the palace, a tradition that was continued in the Heritage City as well. They are both upset with the authorities’ decision breaking with this centuries’-old tradition in this edition of the festivities.
Many residents have also questioned the decision to do away with elephants for the celebration and the truncation of the fete from the customary ten days to just three.
A senior official in the Mandya district administration admitted to deviating from tradition in this year’s Srirangapatna Dasara. However, he said that this was not a decision taken by the district administration. “We are only following instructions from the state government. Decisions such as altering the route of the Jamboo Savari and reducing the length of the festivities are taken at the highest levels of the state government,” he said.
Hulkere Mahadevu, a retired professor, said that if the state government was truly keen on reviving the Srirangapatna Dasara festivities, the essence and traditions of the historic fete ought to be observed and adhered to strictly.
“This is ludicrous. How can the Srirangapatna celebrations be held with so many restrictions, and deviate as much from tradition. It would be better if the government were to scrap the celebrations this year instead of hold it in this manner. It would save a considerable sum of money being wasted,” Mahadevu said.
Low-key affair kicks off in Mandya
Notwithstanding opposition from many quarters about the celebrations going against the grain of traditions and conventions, Srirangapatna Dasara began on a note of muted gusto on Friday. The annual fete is being scaled down owing to the Covid-19 crisis.
The traditional Dasara procession was led, not by elephants, but on a well-adorned motor-powered chariot, which passed through the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway before heading into the alleys and bylanes of Srirangapatna town.
The celebrations were declared open by Covid-19 warriors in the presence of Mandya district in-charge minister KC Narayanagowda. Cultural programmes including music concerts and dance performances were staged at the Old Bathery. Terraces and rooftops of homes served as the pavilion for the residents, who observed the proceedings. The remarkable thing was that most people were spotted donning masks despite watching the whole affair from their own terraces.