Make Dasara eventful, say youngsters
Every year during September and October, Mysore is abuzz with the preparations for Dasara festival. While the jumbo savari indicates the culmination of the grand festival, it is the various events that are organised all around the city that draw huge crowds.
Whether it is the classical carnatic concerts at the Amba Vilas Palace, drama that is staged at Kalmandir or the Yuva Dasara that attracts all the young at heart to listen to their favourite singers, the city comes alive all through the ten-day festival. Apart from these events, mouthwatering dishes at the food mela crave for your attention. The festival also provides a chance for folk artistes from all across the state to display their talent to the highly urbanised people and remind them of their cultural heritage.
But for many, who have frequented these festivals, they have other ideas on their mind. For many youngsters who believe in the adage “The only constant is change,” something new and different should be added to the existing Dasara festivities.
Supreetha of Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering told City Herald that Karnataka is the global leader in Information Technology (IT). Especially Bangalore and Mysore, which are the leading centres for IT development. Apart from that there are around 100 engineering colleges in and around Mysore and Bangalore. She says, “Every year hundreds of students develop applications or make projects for the people.” But it never reaches the people, as the projects remain in colleges and the ideas of students rarely reach the intended audience. Supreetha observed that an exhibition for showcasing science projects should be held in the city. “”Not only engineering colleges, with students who are interested should be allowed to participate,” she remarks. Being in the age of rapidly changing technology, Supreetha feels that research projects should also be highlighted as many students will also get to know the new areas of technological development.
Megha S M, who is working at Central Food Technology and Research Institute (CFTRI), says, “Personally I would like to see artistes from other the parts of the State be given more exposure during the Dasara festival.” However, before adding any new attractions, it is more important to ensure that the existing set-up is taken care of properly.Especially the current state of the roads. “How can you expect to show your city with pride to visitors having such horrible roads?” she questions. She also demanded better arrangements at the Yuva Dasara. Megha says that despite calling singers of national and international repute, the seating arrangements are very mediocre. She also demanded better security arrangements at the venue. “Whenever it rains, we have nowhere to go and get completely drenched,” she complains. However, her favourite is the food mela. She says she can’t wait for the start of the food mela. Ramakrishnanagar resident Lohith Kumar S, who is pursuing his M Tech in PES, Mandya, believes that controlling traffic should be the most important objective. He says that with thousands of people visiting the city, traffic jams become common. Reminiscing his experience during the last year, Lohith said that they had to wait for more than an hour at Hardinge Circle due to traffic jams. Apart from that he says the LCD screens should be installed in all the localities so that people can watch it in their areas, rather than crowding at the centre of the city. Apart from this, Lohith observed that while cultural artistes are given prominence during Dasara and are allowed to stage shows at prominent locations, the local talents are left out.
Pointing to the orchestra which is famous during Ganesh festival, he said that orchestra’s should be supported so that they could perform in the localities. This would also encourage them to develop contacts and move on to a bigger stage, he says.