Dasara has been one of the most popular and widely celebrated festivals in India. The Mangaluru Dasara is a festival which is organised by Kudroli Shri Gokarnantheshwara Temple. This festival concludes with “Navarathri” and “Vijayadashami”. One of the main attractions of this festival is the Tiger Dance which is popularly known as “Huli Vesha” in Kannada and “Pili Vesha” in Tulu. The city is decked in beautiful lighting for 10 days on the occasion for spectacular viewing.
Meanwhile, there has been a huge transition from traditional music to modern music during the events organised for Dasara. In olden days for Dasara, the traditional music was being played and devotees were taking part with much devotion. But today most of the youth are attracted towards film and fusion music performed by DJs, live bands etc.
“I went around the city to see the Dasara festivities. There’s nothing better than live music. Its raw energy feeds the soul. When I spoke to one of the live performers Harish, a famous saxophonist in the town, he said, “I love traditional music and nothing can beat live music with during Dasara.”
Harish is a live performer with his brass band. These artistes perform in the temple during Dasara each year and help the devotees to participate in the Pooja with devotion and soulful music. Another musician said, “I love and respect the traditional music as it reminds me of the age old Dasara. However, modern music has partially replaced the traditional music.”
Change is the order of the day. One of the tableau music groups said, “There are different varieties of music such as DJ show, live bands which include various artistes playing instrumentals too.” The tableau music groups were started in 2011 and since then, they have played a big role during Dasara. There are 130 such tableau music groups that perform on the 10th day during the grand procession. These groups are assigned with different themes which is they performed in different trucks. These trucks maintain 15 to 20 meters gap in between them so that there is no noise distraction that may hinder the other group’s performances.
These tableau groups include small theme based drama which is supported with the background music. There are also live singers and dancers in the procession.
I spoke a group which had “Tulunadu culture” as their theme last year. On traditional and modern music, they said that the DJ music was a must, especially during the procession because the live performers once they start playing would have to continue for hours together even when it is raining. DJ music gives the live performers the much needed relief.” The procession begins from the Kudroli Shree Gokarnantheshwara temple in the evening of Vijayadashmi and will end at the same venue in the early morning the next day with the immersion of the idols at the Pushkarini pond inside the temple complex. The procession passes through the main roads of the city including Kudroli, Mannagudda, Ladyhill, Lalbagh, K S Road, Hampankatta, Car Street and Alake.
In one of the temples, a beautiful brass band was seen performing with 3 trumpets as the lead instruments. Chende troupe also performed in this temple. Many other instruments such as saxophone, clarionet and flute were also being played during the small processions. The traditional music as well as the modern music have got their own significance based on different situations.
You’re not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have. So is the passion of the live performers who performed during this Dasara in Kudroli temple. While I see them playing the notes from their heart, my heart melts. There was a group of 5-10 artistes who were differently abled. Some were blind whereas some had other disorders but their performance was commendable. These artistes are really an inspiration, especially to the younger generation and also to the people to motivate themselves and devout themselves to God.
My visit to city on the occasion of colourful Dasara was fulfilling.
