Festive Events I Attended This Season 2019 | Festivals of Karnataka | Hindu Festivals in India

Starting with VaraMahalakshmi Vrutha/Pooja, there are several festivals that are celebrated uniquely at homes in Karnataka.

The festive season in India is completely different as is considered globally. The festivities hold special significance and goes back to Hindu mythologies and puranas.

Vara Mahalakshmi Puja

A devi idol is handmade and decorated with all possible accessories. Puja is performed by women in most households. Married women and young girls residing in the neighbourhood are invited for arasina-kumkuma-prasada.

This is the typical way of sharing lord’s blessings and wishing prosperity to all.

I hopped from home to home to seek Devi’s blessings.

Krishna Janmashthami

Krishna is revered as the lord and protector of this universe. With midnight aarti to welcome the new born Kanha Ji, and the following day’s energetic celebration of the birth of Lord, this is a very special festival across India.

Tiny tots are all seen dressed up as Little Krishna and Radha, it is a sight to behold. Reciting of Krishna Shlokas and Krishna bhajans collectively is a common practice during this festival.

Dancing to the tunes of songs that praises Lord Krishna can be witnessed among the devotees.

Distributing of laddus and other special festive recipes is the most awaited moment for all as it imparts the culture of sharing and wishing everyone happiness.

Ganesh Chaturthi

An idol of eco friendly clay Ganesha and Devi Gauri was installed in our apartment premises and celebrations reached to great heights. 

Celebrations also witnessed homa/havan to lord Ganapati.

People sang bhajans and shook legs during the visarjan procession.

An art’s corner of various drawings and paintings of Lord Ganesh was displayed. Kids and adults of all age contributed to this gallery.

Dasara (Navaratri and Vijaya Dashami)

Auspicious nine days of Navratri that ends with Vijaya Dashami on 10^th day is soon followed by another prominent festival celebrated in India, Diwali.

The entire season is collectively so very special that most of us plan every possible thing under the sun during this time of the year.

• Some arrange for Devi puja at home and invite guests for prasadam.
• There are some who arrange Dasara golus – also known as Dasara Gombe. This is special practise in southern parts of India.

Gombe Habba at a friend's place during Dasara season

• Dandiya night with music and dance
• Travel to the famous destination where celebrating Navratri/Dasara has gained worldwide popularity.

Mysore Dasara has become every year’s affair

Here, I share few special captures through my lens of this festive season. Mostly, it all covers the special Dasara events held in Mysore.

Planning a trip to Mysore during Dasara season is a must for all travel loving people.

Vintage Car Rally Show (Lalith Mahal Palace to Amba Vilas Palace)

Beginning with Vintage Car Rally Show that started from the premises of Lalit Mahal Palace and reached Amba Vilas Mysore Palace grounds.

Watch video at the link below

The Flower Show at Kuppanna Park

The Fine Arts and HandiCrafts Exhibition at Kalamandir

Micro Art on Rice Grain. 

Mr. Rice Grain Venkatesh inspiring youngsters to take up this art as hobby.

Rice grain inscribed Mysore Wodeyar photo

Channapatna Wooden Toys, Kinhala Art Furnitures, Bamboo Works 

Pot Making and Clay Artefacts

The Food Mela at Scouts and Guides ground.

Mysore Dasara Ahaara Mela 2019 (Food Festival 2019)

Mysore Palace and City Illumination

Chikka Gadiyaara lit up during Dasara, in front of Devraj Market, Mysore

The green pandal at Sayyaji Rao Road, #MysuruDasara2019

Chitra santhe, air show and many more.

Dandiya on the eve of Maha Navami (9^th day of Navratri)

Dressed in great embellished ghagra cholis, anarkalis and lehengas, the energetic dandiya dance in the big circle is a great sight to see.

I did attend one in our premises. The puja and prasad followed by swirling and twirling dance steps.

Ravan Dahan at the grounds of ISKCON-Mysore on Vijaya Dashami (10^th day of victory)

While Mysore Dasara is a grand state affair in Karnataka, elsewhere in Mysore ISKCON temple also organizes a totally different kind of Dussehra celebrations. Mysore celebrates the victory of Devi Chamundi who fought against the demon Mahishasura for nine days and won on the tenth day i.e. Vijaya Dashami.

In the northern states of India, Dasara is the victory of Lord Rama in the fierce battle against the demon Ravana. Depicting the same is the great event of Ravan Dahan at the grounds of ISKCON Temple, Mysore.

Effigies of Kumbhakarna, Ravan and Meghanad

Ravan Dahan is attended by thousands of devotees every year. The effigies of the three asuras, Kumbhakarna, 10 headed Ravana and Meghanad are burnt by series of firecrackers that soar high up in the air indicating the demolishing of evil and prevailing of prosperity in the society.

Thousands of devotees waiting to watch Ravan Dahan

Effigies of demons being burnt as a sign of victory over evil;

Firecrackers marking the celebrations

The occasion was graced by beautiful Bharatnatyam dance performances by artists from Chennai. Every move was worth watching without fluttering the eyelids even once.

Arpanam, a short extracted story from Raam Katha in the form of Bharatnatyam was performed in full glory.

Bharatnatyam Dance depicting the story of Sita-Ram and their devotees

A trip to Trichy – Srirangam – Thanjavur during Navaratri

A trip to a new destination during festive season gave us an insight of what the destination has got to offer us during the festival.

Most temples have either Lord Shiva or Bhagawan Vishnu as presiding deity. Devi Parvita and Lakshmi have equal importance in these temples. This simple means that Navratri is a festival that is celebrated with great pomp here.

A golu arrangement during Navratri at Goddess Akilandeswari shrine within the premises of Sri Jambukeswarar Temple, Trichy. It is huge and amazingly done !

Navratri Golu arrangement at 

Akilandeswari shrine, Jambukeswarar Temple, Trichy

Sri Ranganayaki Thayar shrine within Sri Rangatha Swamy Temple in Srirangam is a feast to the eyes of all devotees during Navratri. The utsava (procession) in the premises is something one must witness physically. The idol is extremely beautiful and the shrine is decorated to look grand with lightings and flowers. Prasadam is distributed at the exit point of this shrine.

Beautifully face decorated elephant greets the devotees at the entrance of Thayar Shrine.

Deepawali

The laterns, oil lamp diyas, variety of recipes, new clothes, festive shopping, silk, gold, these are the common highlights of this auspicious festival of lights.

This year I will share the glimpses of Dhanyalakshmi puja that takes place in every house in Udupi-Mangalore region.

In Udupi and surrounding places, Deepawali is a little different. There is very high importance for Naraka Chaturdashi, Dhana Dhanya Lakshmi puja, Go puja, Bali Padiyam.

While Naraka Chaturdashi marks the slaining of Narakasura, it is a joyous celebration for all who believe in the message of demolishing evil from the society. The day begins with oil bath following several puja performances.

Merchants and traders keep the practice of worshipping their shops and their trade stocks. Common people also follow the tradition of worshipping money, gold and grains at home. This way Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for all the wealth she has bestowed upon us.

People who rear cattles in their daily life, follow the practise of worshipping cows.

This year, drawing picture of King Bali, burning thudar and shouting ‘koo’ was the main highlight of our festive celebrations.

Celebrations of Bali Padiyam or Thudar Parba or Poli Parba

Bali padiyam is the home coming day of King Bali Chakravarthy, who is remembered as a noble king on the earth. King Bali was pushed to Patal Loka – nether world by Vamana (incarnation of Lord Vishnu) as he was attempting to gain control over Deva Loka – heaven too. Vishnu also granted a been of visting his subjects on earth once a year.

It is on this day people especially farmers invite Bali and offer him their crops and lifestock. They also seek blessing for good crop growth in the upcoming year.

A figure of King Bali is drawn in the front yard of the premises and aarti is performed. A Thudar is lightened and placed facing the paddy field/garden.

Burning Thudar; Drawing of King Bali 

Now, what is thudar? A medium sized dry stick (usually chosen from coconut tree) to which, a cotton cloth is wound. The cloth is soaked in oil. 3 sticks of this kind are tied together at the middle and made to stand like tripod. During the puja, this thudar is lightened.

Locally, Bali Padiyam is also called as Thudar Parba in Tulu language.

Why Tuluvas also call this day as Poli Parba? Poli means wealth and prosperity. On this day, people invite King Bali to accept their offerings and in bless them all with happiness and prosperity. Thus, Poli Parba.

During the aarti, a song chanting in the local expert language (tulu) happens post which all who have gathered shout loudly in chorus making the sound ‘kooo’.

The chanting goes as –

O Baleendra, Bali Balla Bali Balla (O King Bali, please come)

Mooji Dina Bali Dethondu (accept our offerings)

Poli Korla (bless us with prosperity and wealth)

Koo… Koo…

With families giving up agriculture and owing to nuclear family system, this Bali Padiyam puja is not done in complete grandeur. The minimum practice is just observed these days.

Tulasi Puja

The marriage ceremony of Tulasi – the holy plant with Lord Narayan. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi resides in the holy plant of Tulsi.

The pot or the special construction space for Tulsi plant is so beautifully decorated during this season. Colorful rangolis, mango leaves, jackfruit leaves, banana plantains, long sugarcane sticks, earthen pot diyas – these are the most common things that goes in for tulsi plant decorations.

Here, a few click of Rangoli and simple decorations at a friend’s place.

Some details, significance and glimpses of Tulsi Puja here at the link.

How was your time this year?

My memories became fresh as I prepared myself to document all the festivals I celebrated all long this year.