Mysore Dasara procession, 400th year

Mysore Dasara is the ‘Naada Habba’ (state festival) of Karnataka. This was the 400th Dasara celebrations Mysore was witnessing; the first Dasara celebrations was held under the leadership of Raja Wodeyar in the year 1610 at Srirangapatna. The origin of the festival, however, is said to date back to 15th Century under the rule of Vijayanagar dynasty.

Somana Kunita (Mask Dance)

Somana Kunita or ‘Mask dance’ is a form of folk dance mainly prevalent in south Karnataka region (Old Mysore region) and is performed mainly after yugadi and before the onset of Monsoon. Somana Kunitha is mainly associated with the worshipping of “Grama Devate” [Village Deity] and the colour of the mask is also indicative of the nature of the deity – A red mask representing a benevolent deity while a yellow or black mask suggesting the opposite.

Veeragase

Veeragase is a vigorous dance form based on Hindu mythology and involves very intense energy-sapping dance movements. This is one of the prominent performances at Mysore Dasara procession.

Tribal Drummers

Elephant Balarama carrying the 750kg golden howdah with the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari for the 12th successive year! With the Jamboo savari the Dasara procession comes to an end. The preparations and security this time around was better but the number of volunteers and police personnel blocking the view and getting in the way were too many, and for a photographer there is nothing more irritating than this! Oh yeah, and another thing, I took all the photos using my new Nikon 50mm F 1.8D lens! I’m mighty pleased with the performance of this lens.

Date: 17th Oct 2010 Place: Mysore Palace, Mysore, Karnataka