An earlier post was about the
Dasara elephants and the Dasara celebrations of Mysore
The place where Dasara began
is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and it is fondly
called as part of the largest open air museum in the world.
Viewing the magnificent ruins
which are spread over several kilometers brings tears to the eyes and the
destruction of the once world’s most populous and richest city leaves everyone
numb.
The Dasara has its origin
here and it is from this place the world got to know of the procession, which
today is conducted in Mysore.
When Dasara was being
celebrated in this city, Mysore then was unheard
of and the Main Palace
European travelers and even
Indian who frequented the city of Victory
However, the earliest
reference to Dasara is by a Persian traveller, Abdul Razzak who was invited by Emperor
Devaraya, the second, to witness the festival during 1442-43.
Though there was no Dibba
then, we can safely assume that it was thereabouts that the procession wended its
way. The many buildings that Razzak speaks of and the geography seems to speak
of the location of the Dibba as the palace complex from where Devaraya watched
the procession.
Here is how Razzak speaks of the
Dasara then: “The infidels of this country who are endowed with power are fond
of displaying their pride, pomp, power and glory in holding every year a
stately and magnificent festival which they call Mahanavami”.
He further continues, saying
that “The King of Vijayanagara directed that all his nobles and chiefs should
assemble at the royal abode from all the provinces of his country which extends
for the distance of three or four month's journey. They brought with them a
thousand elephants arrayed in armour and adorned with howdahs on which Jugglers
(magicians) and throwers of naptha were seated and the foreheads, trunks and
ears of the elephants were painted with cinnabar and other pigments. On that
beautiful plain were raised enchanting pavilions of two to five stages high on which
from top to bottom were painted all kinds of figures that the imagination can
conceive of men, wild animals, birds and all kinds of beasts down to flies and
ants. All these were painted with exceeding delicacy and taste. Some of these
pavilions were so constructed that they revolved and every moment offered a
different face to the view”.
Razzak speaks of the
entertainment during the festivities saying, “In front of the plain, a nine -
storeyed pillared edifice was built, which was of exceeding beauty. The throne
of the king was placed on the ninth storey”. Razzak says he was assigned a
place in the seventh storey exclusively for himself and his friends. “In the
open space were singers who were mostly young girls. They were seated behind a
beautiful curtain opposite the king. All of a sudden, the curtain was removed
on both sides and the girls began to dance with such grace that the soul was
intoxicated with delight. After the dance, there was a display of acrobatics
and the crowd enjoyed it. An elephant was made to stand on a wooden plank and
dance to the tune of music. This was a great attraction. The King gave away the
prizes to young dancing girls and others who took part in various items”.
Razzak says he was
particularly impressed by the rituals of the last three days which coincided
with Durgashtami, Mahanavami and Vijayadashami which showed the culmination of
the Dasara.
On the Dasara Durbar, he
says, “Every evening King Devaraya held a durbar in which all the feudatories
and nobles came and bowed to the King and gave rich tributes of gold coins,
ornaments, precious stones and pearls. King Devaraya smiled and accepted them as if he was doing a
great favour and the feudatories felt happy at this gesture”.
Razzak was also taken to the
King who enquired about his welfare, his Kingdom and other details and gave him
betel leaves and a silk bag containing gold coins and wished him good luck. Razzak
was satisfied with this kind gesture of King Devaraya and wrote, “My eyes have
not seen a better King than Devaraya”.
The accounts of Paes who
visited Vijayanagar in 1520 when Krishna Deve Raya was the Emperor and Nuniz in 1532 when Achuta Deve Raya was the Emperor and those of other travelers mention
that the Emperor sat with his family and other high ranking dignitaries on the
Mahanavami Dibba and presided over the entire event.
The Dibba was decorated and
the Emperor sat on the highest seat. The Dibba was totally destroyed by the
Muslim states of Deccan in 1565.
Today, there are no Dasara
celebrations at Mahanavami Dibba. It lies desolate and visitors and pilgrims
walk about the elevated platform.
History tells us that Mahanavami
Dibba was built by Krishna Deva Raya to
commemorate his victory over Udaygiri, Orissa. His first expedition in 1513 to
reconquer Udaygiri had failed and this setback had made the Emperor all the more
determined to take Udaygiri.
Sbsequently, the Mahanavami
Dibba underwent various changes under the leadership of different kings. Today,
the Dibba is 22 feet tall, the upper part 80 feet in length and width each.
When the Dasara festival was
first celebrated from here sometime in 1514, various ambassadors, governors and
poets from different countries also visited Hampi during the period, which
lasted nine days.
Several cultural activities
and sports like wrestling or Kusti, sword fighting was held in front of the
Dibba. The Army chiefs were felicitated for their bravery. A procession of animals
including elephants, camels, horse and cattle was taken out through the
important streets of Hampi before it reached the Dibba.
Pujas were also performed for
several gods like Durga Devi, Elamma and Hathukayithayamma. The battle of
Talikote or Rakasa Tangadi signaled the end of Hampi.
Though the State Government
celebrates Hampi Utsava and Purandara Mahotsava, the Dasara is no longer
celebrated a the Mahanavami Dibba.
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