Dolls bring a slice of Mysore Dasara in Mangalore

October 7, 2013

Mangalore, Oct 6: For the seventh year in Mangalore,'Nammavaru', an association of Brahmin families hailing from old Mysore region, organised an expo of dolls depicting various traditions such as Dasara celebrations and festivities in Mysore, on the occasion of Navaratri festival.

The nine-day expo was inaugurated at Sharavu Mahaganapathi temple auditorium here on Sunday bymanaging trustee of the temple Raghavendra Shastry. This year, over 1,000 dolls have been showcased at the venue, with a special focus on the statue of Vivekananda memorial at Kanyakumari.

Speaking after inaugurating the expo, Raghavendra Shastry said that the doll expo had been organised by the association with the intention of retaining the tradition and allowing their children to grow with it. This special custom of depiction of ceremonial festivities through dolls is a way of showcasing things in a disciplined manner, he said, adding that we should retain our old customs and nurture them. “We should also learn from other traditions which are not native to this region,” he said.

Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd (MCF) director Prabhakar Rao said that Navaratri was the special occasion of celebrating the victory of the good and punishing the evil. It signifies the triumph of good over the evil, he said.

There are several creative kinds of doll presentations nowadays, with depictions of traffic jams and situations of the present times such as corruption. Such presentations should also portray the on-goings of the society such as corruption, which will send a message to the society, he said.

Origin of the custom

The practice of arranging dolls depicting the Dasara festivities in Mysore have become an integral part of Dasara celebrations, which was a grand affair during the reign of Vijayanagara Empire. The practice of recreating the Dasara festivities in the homes of commoners began as they were unable to take part in all the ceremonies performed by the king and queen. Now, it is common practice in all houses in old Mysore during Dasara festival.

The association decided to organise a similar display of dolls in Mangalore to introduce and familiarise the traditions of Mangalore to the people of Dakshina Kannada. From 800 dolls on display last year, the number of dolls has gone up to 1000 this year.

The doll expo will be open to people from 4 p.m. onwards till October 14. Every evening, there will be cultural programmes from 7 p.m., said general secretary of the organisation M S Gururaj.

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Probe will reveal if ‘outsiders’ belonging to banned-PFI involved in Mandya violence: Home Minister

News Network

September 17,2024

Kalaburagi: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said that alleged role of "outsiders" belonging to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in the violence at Nagamangala will be examined and action taken based on the probe report.

Clashes broke out between two groups during a Ganesh idol procession in the town in Mandya district following which mobs went on a rampage targeting several shops and vehicles leading to tension on September 11 night.

"Everything will be examined, investigation will be done, on getting the report we will decide. We will not protect anyone, and unnecessarily no one will be punished. We will look into the facts based on the inquiry report and take action accordingly," Parameshwara told reporters here.

He noted that two officials -- Deputy Superintendent of Police and Inspector -- have already been suspended, and added that further action will be taken based on the report.

The Minister said the government has taken the Nagamangala violence seriously and there is no question of taking such incidents lightly. "BJP makes such allegations, but we too have responsibility, we don't take anything lightly."

On allegations that "outsiders" were involved in the violence, Parameshwara said if inquiry reveals complicity of such elements, it would be examined and action taken accordingly.

Regarding claims that those belonging to the banned PFI were involved, he said: "It will be known from the probe."

On demand for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into Nagamangala violence by BJP which alleged "failure" of state's home department, Parameshwara said: "they keep saying such things, we will not listen to all that."

According to police, an argument had broken out between two groups, when the procession by devotees from Badri Koppalu village reached a place of worship on September 11, and some miscreants hurled stones, which escalated the situation.

Following the clashes between the two groups, a few shops were vandalised and goods torched and vehicles set on fire, they added.

To allegations from some BJP leaders that the party MLA Munirathna was arrested "hurriedly", Parameshwara said, police acted after the complaint was given, "what's wrong in that?"

Munirathna, who represents Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly segment here, was picked up from Nangli village in Kolar’s Mulbagal on Saturday evening on charges of harassing a Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractor for bribe, casteist slurs on a former corporator, and also cheating, criminal intimidation and insulting a woman’s modesty.

Asked about "illegal items" seized from the prison here recently by officials, he said an investigation has begun on this.

When a photo of actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who was lodged in Parappana Agrahara Prison here, hanging out with other inmates surfaced recently, action was taken based on the probe report and eleven officials were suspended.

"I will look into recent seizures made too and action will be taken; also probe is on at other prisons in the state and action will follow if anything wrong is found," the Minister added.

Police raided the high-security wing of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison here on Saturday and seized smartphones and other illegal goods.

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