Dasara festivities set on a theme of 'equality' loses reverence

People who witnessed the Jamboo Savari, taken out as part of Vijayadashami on Saturday, questioned the idea of having a theme for the Dasara celebrations.

Dayananda Rao, a senior citizen of Vijaynagar 2nd Stage in the city, who has recently moved out of the old Agrahara area, said, “I witnessed the Jamboo Savari of the last Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar as a boy. I have seen it evolve over the decades. Last year when a theme, ‘conservation of water’, was adopted, I was happy. Such positive developments give a direction to the celebrations. This year, when District in-charge Minister H C Mahadevappa announced the theme for the year — Constitution, Democracy and Equality — I was overwhelmed. Gone are the days of the maharajas when a few sections of the people enjoyed certain privileges.”

Rao said, “I admire Mahadevappa, who never misses an opportunity to speak highly about B R Ambedkar and the Constitution. But unfortunately, it continued to be the usual police, officials’ and politicians’ Dasara. The common people, who do not have ‘contacts’ were treated like dirt,” he said.

Gunde Gowda, from a village in Mandya district, said that he developed an interest in witnessing Dasara celebrations from his father.

“I have not seen the maharaja, but my father has seen him. I don’t remember my first Dasara. But I think I have been witnessing Dasara for at least 40 years. My children, who have settled well in Bengaluru are not interested even though I used to bring them along when they were young. I have heard that people are provided seating on the Palace premises to see the launch of the Jamboo Savari. I have never gone inside the Palace during Dasara,” he said.

When Gunde Gowda’s attention was drawn towards the theme ‘Equality’, he asked, “Is it? Then why allow only a few sections of the people inside the Palace? Why can’t all be allowed to see the procession as equals?”

Nikhil Hegde, a student, who had come with a group of friends said that, even though he came early when most of the seats were vacant, he could not see the procession properly as his enclosure was behind, allotted as per the categorisation of his pass. My father had procured a few passes from a KAS official. Why not allow us in the front rows, when we come early? Is it equality, to reserve the front rows for a privileged few persons?” he asked.

Abhishek, a software testing professional from Bengaluru said that, he booked a couple of tickets for the Jamboo Savari on BookMyShow app for his family. “I bought the tickets for Rs 1,000 each. Why issue passes to a few sections of people? If the officials and politicians are present inside the Palace for discharging some responsibility, let them be there. Why allow their wives, children, relatives and friends inside, for free? Let them all buy tickets,” he said.

Nanjunda Raje Urs, a relative of the erstwhile royal family, who has also written a couple of books on the late kings, said that if the organisers can arrange seating for 24,500 persons on the premises of the Palace, it is a good thing. “But let it be free for all people, equally. If there is no compartmentalisation and restriction for entry, people will not sit in one place for long hours. People are curious only about something that is out of their bounds. The excuse of security is foolishness. Most untoward incidents have occurred in barricaded and secured places. Only police intelligence can avert untoward incidents,” he said.