Much hyped ‘Jamboo savari’ is worse than a village shandy. It lacks luster; it’s nothing but chaotic. So says Prof. G Venkatasubbaiah to Deccan Herald’s Prathibha Nandakumar. Navarathri (he never calls it Dasara) had its glory during the Maharaja days, says the professor, adding that the procession once provided a grand spectacle that had made Mysore dasara world famous. The ceremonial march comprised not just the Palace cavalry, but also two carts carrying members of the royal family, the royal cow, Maharaja’s elephant, and the dancing horse that moved to rhythmic beats. Bringing up the rear was His Highness on a golden howdah mounted elephant.
Dr U R Ananthamurthy has his own take - “we thought taking the Maharaja on an elephant was a feudal custom and a sign of our backwardness and superstition”. A self-proclaimed anti-royalist, Dr URA had Kuvempu as a teacher and mentor and, during university days, he came under the influence of the socialist movement in Malnad. A group of socialist volunteers, including J H Patel, under the leadership of Shantaveri Gopala Gowda, waved black-flag at the Maharaja on the elephant.
Would like to add, if I may, to Mr K R Nataraj's input, with a reference here to blog, named Mysorean (Click to access), hosted by Mr Aditya Nataraj. A kin of yours, K R ?
Dear Mysorean, It may not be a bad idea to network Mysore bloggers, by linking them through Mymysore site. This could facilitate once-in-a-while get-together of Mysore bloggers on the lines of the Delhi Bloggers Meet. Just a thought.
Prof. G Venkatasubbaiah's words: " Navarathri (he never calls it Dasara) had its glory during the Maharaja days, says the professor, adding that the procession once provided a grand spectacle that had made Mysore dasara world famous. The ceremonial march comprised not just the Palace cavalry, but also two carts carrying members of the royal family, the royal cow, Maharaja’s elephant, and the dancing horse that moved to rhythmic beats. Bringing up the rear was His Highness on a golden howdah mounted elephant".
I echo the above sentiments of the professor. Indeed, during 1950s when the then Maharaja was reduced to a Rajapramukh and then demoted to a mere governor, Mysore lost the lustre that was unique, that made 'Navarathri' so special andMysore so singularly famous and every Mysorean so proud. Krishnaraja Wodeyar showed that modernisation and progress could co-exist with royalty. Democracy, the then politicians should have realised, could co-exist with royalty- Britain was and is an example. No exception was made in the case of Jayachamaraja Wodeyar then, and a friend of my father said to me when governorship was thrust on Maharaja 'watch, the shine will come off Mysore within your life time '. Today the palace is a mere building and jamboosavari is a mere item in a procession without much meaning.
First talking website for Mysore that too for the tourism department, I request everyone to check this site www.mysoretourism.org. This site talks instead of a silent website this has become a talking site. Later stages this site will be updated to the Interactive Talking site where in we can ask any questions and the website will reply by talk.