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Mysore celebrates Dasara with music |   | |||
| Mysore, the palace town in Karnataka, is well known for its Dasara festivities.
The renowned Darbar Hall concerts that were held during the Wodeyar Dynasty came to an end during the late Sri Jayachamaraja Wodeyar (also a renowned composer). The Navaratri music festival has undergone many changes during recent years. In place of pure classical concerts by the stalwarts of the country, light music concerts were included in recent years. However with the efforts a few right thinking persons and the District-in-charge Minister, Tanvir Sait, the Palace concerts are slowly reviving their original charm, bringing back nostalgic memories. This year, leading artistes are participating during the nine-day music festival from 4 October 2005. The fest features Prof. R. Visweswaran (veena), Ravikiran (Chitravina) Begam Parveen Sulthana (Hindustani Vocal), Pandit Viswamohan Bhat (Mohan Veena), T. V. Shankaranarayanan ( Carnatic Vocal) Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (Bansuri), Ustad Rashid Khan (Hindutani Vocal). They will perform at the specially erected stage with the back drop of the monumental palace.
Gold passes and passport like passes are issued to the visiting national and international tourists who can enjoy the ten-day fest in Mysore. Rides on the decorated traditional Mysore Tangas (horse carriage), the IAF shows and sports are other attractions at this year's fest. | ||||
And this year, the centuries-old Mysore Dasara Music and Dance festival 2005 will begin from October 4, 2005.
Cultural events are held at Jaganmophan Palace and Kala Mandira while the Yuva Dasara faeturing mainly film artistes will be held at the University Open air theater. The torch light parade with a variety of folk dances and spectacular cracker show will conclude the festival on Vijayadasami Day at the legendary Banni Mantap where the erstwhile kings of Mysore used to hold traditional rituals.