Festival in Karnataka

Dussehra

Introduction to Dussehra One of the major festivals of the Hindus celebrated with great pomp and festivities is the Dussehra. The Dussehra Festival in Karnataka is a 10 day carnival that was once celebrated with a lot of extravagance by the Vijayanagara Empire in Karnataka, once the greatest Empire ruling the south. Later, these festivities became a part of the tradition of the Hindu religion. The Dussehra is mainly celebrated in Mysore which is one of the most important and well known Dussehra festivals in India. This festival in celebrated to mark the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama.

Description of the Dussehra The 10 day festival of Dussehra in Karnataka is mainly held in Mysore where the royal family of Mysore has a major and significant contribution. The most important feature of the celebrations of Dussehra is the ‘Dussehra Procession’ that is held on the Vijayadashami or the tenth day of the festival. There are lavishly decorated elephants that carry the idol of Chamudeswari which is places on a golden seat on the elephant. They are accompanied by horses, folk dancers, courtiers, nobles, soldiers and visitors, all of whom together displays a colorful sight. The Dussehra celebrated royally in Mysore, Karnataka, include regal processions, torch light parades and musical events.

Time for celebrating Dussehra The time for celebration Dussehra in Karnataka is usually between the months of September and October. It lasts for 10 continuous days.

Kambala Festival

Introduction to Kambala Festival Kambala Festival, a rural festival of Karnataka is celebrated every year with a lot of enthusiasm and vigor. The Kambala Festival is popular because of the Buffalo Race associated with it. The Kambala Buffalo Race is held with a lot of colors, grandeur and merriment. This rural sporting festival of Karnataka was at one point of time a pastime for the royal family and the tradition was kept alive till it passed on the ordinary men, by the feudal lords of Tulu region.

Description of the Kambala Festival The Kambala Festival is famous for the Buffalo race that is held during the celebrations. During the Kambala Festival in Karnataka, when the fields are wet, the buffalos are made to race on the tracks, edged by a strong farmer who comes after the buffaloes surfing and balancing his way on top of a wooden plank. The buffalo race starts off amidst a lot of colors, frenzy and cheers. The buffalo which is the swiftest gets the fist prize.

Time for celebrating Kambala Festival The Kambala(Buffalo race) Festival in Karnataka takes place in between November and march every year. The places where the Kambala Festival takes place are Baradi Beedu, Bolantur, Kolatta, Majalu, Puttur, Kamalakettu and Uppinagadi.

Pattadakkal Dance

Introduction India is known for its many hued fairs and festivals that form an integral part of the attraction of India. Each state, race and culture comes up with different fairs and festivals that are different from each other, each with different origin and each has a different way of celebration. Pattadakkal Dance Festival is celebrated every year in Pattadakkal and the venues are inevitably the temples of Pattadakkal Fairs and Festivals forms an integral part of the living heritage of Karnataka .Festivals here is marked by enthusiasm, gaiety, color, adherence to traditions and culture. The diversity of the state is well manifested in these fairs and festivals of Karnataka. Pattadakkal Dance Festival is celebrated every year in Pattadakkal and the venues are inevitably the temples of Pattadakkal. The village of Pattadakkal lies 20 kilometers from Badami in the bank of Malaprabha River. It has been declared as a world Heritage site. The village consists of 10 ancient temples. The architectural type of the temple reflects both North Indian and South Indian Chalukya style. Most of these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Time for Celebration Pattadakkal Dance Festival is celebrated every year in the month of January.

Description of Pattadakkal Dance Festival Pattadakkal Dance Festival is organized by the Government of Karnataka. It boosts up tourism in Karnataka to a considerable rate. The dances are inspired by the different inscription and images carved on the temple walls. This dance festival attracts many famed classical dancers from all over India and is also accompanied by a craft mela.

Vairamudi Festival

Introduction to Vairamudi Festival The Vairamudi Festival in Karnataka is a part of the grand celebrations of Brahmotsavam that takes place during the Panguni month. It is on the fourth day of the Brahmotsavam that the Vairamudi Festival is celebrated. This festival in Karnataka is held at the temple of Cheluvanarayana in Melkote.

Description of the Vairamudi Festival During the Vairamudi Festival of Karnataka that is on the third day of the Brahmotsavam,Lord Cheluvarayaswami is adorned with the legendary diamond studded crown which is popularly called the Vairamudi crown. The Lord is then escorted by his companions and consorts and taken out in a colorful procession throughout the city, at a certain auspicious hour of the day. This procession is witnessed by the people of the town who throng the streets to observe this historic event.

Time for celebrating Vairamudi Festival The Vairamudi Festival is celebrated during the months of March and April, on the fourth day of the Brahmotsavam.

Hampi Festival

Introduction to Hampi Festival Hampi in Karnataka was once the flourishing capital of the glorious Vijayanagar Empire which was one of the greatest empires of the Indian history. The city, now almost in ruins comes alive with a lot of color, music and dance once a year, during the Hampi Festival. To reach Hampi, the nearest Airport would be Bellary which is about 74 kms from Hampi while other airports nearby are Bangalore, Belgaun,Bijapur etc. Hospet is the closest railway station that can be easily reached by KSRTC buses.

Description of the Hampi Festival The celebrations for the Hampi Festival in Karnataka include various programs that keep the spirits of the people high and give them an opportunity to rejoice and relive the glory of their land. The celebrations include dance, drama, music and also colorful puppet shows. There are also beautiful fireworks at display that light up the sky and spectacular processions carried out, all of which recreate the splendor of Hampi. This 3 day cultural extravaganza is one of the most popular festivals in Karnataka.

Time for celebrating Hampi Festival The Hampi Festival is celebrated during the first week of November.

Pongal

Introduction to the Pongal in Karnataka The harvest festival of Pongal is celebrated in different parts of the country but variations mark the way in which they are celebrated. In Karnataka the Festival of Pongal is celebrated with a lot of revelry. It is also known by the name of Sankranti. Friends and relatives visit one another to exchange greetings.

Description of the Pongal in Karnataka On the occasion of Pongal in Karnataka, prayers are offered not only at home but also in the temples. This traditional custom continues to this day. A special dish is prepared on the occasion of Pongal in Karnataka. The ingredients of this sweet dish Ellu are coconut, sesame seeds and sugar. It is customary for the people to exchange this sweet dish with friends, relatives and neighbors. It is a token to show that hence forth the relationship will be as sweet as Ellu with no bitterness involved. People clad themselves in new clothes. But they are not the only ones to dress up gorgeously; they decorate their cows and bullocks as well. Humans and animals are equally a part of this unrestrained merry making. Pongal, a sweet preparation made of rice is served to the animals. Towards evening, a splendid procession comes out in which the cattle’s and bullocks are an integral part. Drum beaters also participate and there is plenty of music as well. The atmosphere in general is very bright and pleasant and promotes a feeling of cheer. A bonfire is organized at night and the animals are made to jump over it.

Time for celebrating the Pongal in Karnataka Pongal is celebrated on the day of winter solstice according to the Hindu calendar. It is nice to visit the state of Karnataka when Pongal is being celebrated so that you can be a part of the mirth as well.

Tula Sankramana

Introduction to Tula Sankramana Festival There is a strong belief among the people of Kodagu in Karnataka, that during a particular time of the year , Goddess Cauvery appears in a small tank as a sudden surge of water, in front of the hundreds of devotes who gather here. This divine ‘darshan’ is celebrated every year in Kodagu during the Tula Sankramana Festival, with a lot of revelry.

Description of the Tula Sankramana Festival During the Tula Sankramana Festival, thousands of worshippers and devotees from all over the state come to Kodagu to witness the holy event and seek the blessings of mother Goddess. The people commemorate and rejoice the event during Tula Sankramana in Karnataka by taking holy baths in the waters and carrying back holy water from the source of the river.

Time for celebrating Tula Sankramana Festival The Tula Sankranama Festival occurs every year in Karnataka, during the month of October, approximately in the middle of the month.

History of Karnataka

A Pre-historic Brief:

The pre-historic culture of Karnataka, the hand-axe culture, compares favourable with the one that existed in Africa and is quite distinct from the pre-historic culture of North India. The early inhabitants of Karnataka knew the use of iron far earlier than the North, and iron weapons, dating back to 1200 B.C have found at Hallur in Dhaward district.

Early rulers:

The early rulers of Karnataka were predominantly from North India. Parts of Karnataka were subject to the rule of the Nandas and the Mauryas.

The Shathavahanas (30 B.C to 230 A.D of paithan) ruled over extensive areas in Northern Karnataka. Karnataka fell into the hands of the Pallavas of Kanchi. Pallavas domination was ended by indigenous dynasties, the Kadambas of Banavasi and the Gangas of Kolar, who divided Karnataka between themselves.

The Kadambas

The Kadamba Dynasty was founded by Mayurasharman in c. 345 A.D. Subjected to some kind of humiliation at the Pallava capital, this young brahmin gave up his hereditary priestly vacation and took to the life of a warrior and revolted aganist the Pallavas. The Pallavas were forced to recognise him as a sovereign when he crowned himself at Banavasi in Uttar Kannada Dt. One of his successors, Kakustha Varman (c. 435-55) was such a powerful ruler that even the Vakatakas and the guptas cultivated martial relationship with this family during his time. The great poet Kalidasa deems to have visited his court.

The Gangas

The Gangas started their rule from c. 350 from Kolara and later their capital was shifted to Talakadu (Mysore Dt.). Till the advent of the Badami Chalukyas, they were almost a sovereign power. Later they continued to rule ove Gangavadi (which comprised major parts of South Karnataka) till the close of the 10th century as subordinates of the Badami Chalukyas and the Rastrakutas.

The Badami Chalukyas

It is the Chalukyas of Badami who brought the whole of Karnataka under a single rule. They are also remembered for their contributions in the feild of art. Their monuments are found at Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal. The first great prince of the dynasty was Pulikeshin I (c. 540-66 A.D) who built the ashwamedha (horse sacrifice) after subduing many rulers including the Kadambas.

His grandson, Pulikeshin II (609-42) built a vast empire which extended from Narmada in the north to the Cauveri in the south. In the east, he overthrew the Vishnukundins and appointed his younger brother Vishnuvardhana, the voceroy of Vengi.

The Chalukyan empire included not only the whole of karnataka and Maharashtra, but the greater part of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Andra, and also parts of Orissa and Tamilnadu. Vikramaditya II (693-734) in the line defeated the Pallavas, entered the Pallava capital Kanchi victorious. The Chalukyan power was weakened in the long run by its wars with the Pallavas.

The Rastrakutas

In 753, Danthidurga, the Rastrakuta feudatory of the Chalukyas, overthrew the Chalukya king Keerthivarman II, and his family inherited the fortunes of the Chalukyas. The engraving of the celebrated monolithic Kailas temple at Ellora (now in Maharshtra) is attribuited to Danthidurga's uncle, Krishna I (756-74). Krishna's son, Dhruva (780-93) crossed the Narmada, and after defeating celebrated princes like Vathsaraja (of the Gurjara Pratheehara family of central India) and Dharmapala of Bengal, extracted tribute from the ruler of Kanauji, 'the seat of India's paramountry'. His son Givinda III (793-814) also repeated the feast when he defeated Nagabhata II, the Gujara Pratheehara and Dharmapala of Bengal and again extracted tribute from the King of Kanauj.The achievements of the Chalukyas of Badami and the Rastrakutas by defeating the rulers of Kanauj have made their erathe "Age of Imperial Karnataka".

The Kalyana Chalukyas

The Chalukyas of Kalyana overthrew the Rastrakutas in 973, Someshwara I (10432068), succeeded in resisting the efforts of the Cholas to subdue Karnataka, and he built a new capital, Kalyana (mordern Basava Kaluyana in Bidar Dt.) The Chola king Rajadhiraja was killed by him at Koppar in 1054.

His son Vikramaditya VI (10762127) has been celebrated in history as the patron of the great jurist Vijnaneshwara, (work: mitakshara, standard work on Hindu law), and the emperor has been immortalised by poet Dilhana (haling from Kashmir) who chose this prince himself as the hero for his sanskrit poem, Vikramankadeva Charitam. Vikramaditya defeated the Paramaras of Centeral India thrice. In the South he captured Kanchi from the Cholas in 1085, and in the East, he conqured Vengi in 1093. His commander, Mahadeva built the Mahadeva temple at Itagi (Raichur Dt.) the finest Chalukyan monument. His son Someshwara III (1127-39) was a great scholar. He has written Manasollasa, a sanskrit encyclopedia and Vikrmankabhyudayam, a peom of which his father is the hero,

The Sevunas

The Sevunas (or Yadavas) who were foundatories of the Rastrakutas and the chalukyas of Kalyana, became a sovereign power from the days of Bhillama V (1173-92) who founded the new capital Devagiri (modern Daulathabad in Maharastra). Bhillama V captured Kalyana in 1186, and later clashed with Hoysala Ballala II at Sorarturu in 1190. Though he lost the battle.He built a vast kingdom, extending from the Narmada to the Krishna. His son Jaitugi (1192-99) not only defeated Parmara Subhata varma, but also killed the Kakatiya kings of Orangal, Rudra and Mahadeva.

Singhana II (11992247), the greatest of the Sevunas, extended the Sevuna kingdom upto the Tungabhadra. But the Servunas were defeated by the army of the Delhi Sultan in 1296, and again in 1307 and finally in 1318, and thus the kingdom was wiped out. The Sevunas have become in immortal in history by the writings of the mathematician Baskarasharya, of the great writer on music, Sharngadeva, and of the celebrated scholar Hemadri.

The Hoysalas

The Hoyasala continued the great traditions of their art-loving overlords the Kalyana Chalukyas, and their fine temples are found at Beluru, Helebidu and Somanathapura. Vishnuvardhana (11082141) freed Gangavadi from the Cholas (who had held it from 999), and in commemoration of his victory, built the celebrated Vijayanarayana (Chennakeshva) Temple at Belur.

His commander Katamalla built the famous Hoysaleshwara temple at Halebidu.

Though Vishnuvardhana did not succeed in his serious effort to overthrow the Chalukyan yoke, his grandson Balla II (11732220) not only became free, but even defeated Sevuna Bhillama V at Soraturu in 1190, after having defeated Chalukyas Someshwara IV in 1187. When the Cholas were attacted by the Pandyas in Tamilnadu, Balla II drove the Pandyas back and thus assumed the title "Establisher of the Chola Kingdom". Later, in the days of his son Narasimha II (1120-35), Hoysalas even secured a foothold in Tamilnadu and Kuppam, near Srirangam became a second capital of the Hoysalas.

Ballala III (12912343), the last Hoysala, had to struggle hard to hold his own against the invasion of the Delhi Sultan. He died fighting the Sultan of Madhurai. It was his commanders, Harihara and Bukka, who founded the Vijayanagra Kingdom, which later grew to be an empire. Hoyasala age saw great kannada poets like Rudrabhatta, Janna, Harihara and Raghavanka. Hoysala temples at Beluru, Halebidu, Somanathapur, Arasikere, Amritapura etc., are wonderful works of art.

Vijayanagara Empire

When the armies of the Delhi Sultanate destroyed the four great kingdom of the south (the Sevunas, Kakatiyas of Orangal, Hoysalas and of the Pandyas of Madhurai) it looked as if a political power following a religion quite alien to the South was going to dominate the peninsula. Many princes including heroic Kumara Rama, a fudatory from Kamapila in Bellary dist. perished while resisting the onslaughts. When the Vijayanagara Kingdom was founded by the Sangama brothers, people wholeheartedly supported them. Tradition says that sage Vidyaranya had caused a shower of gold to finance the Sangama brothers. Perphaps the sage succeeded in securing financial help from various quarters for the founders of Vijayanagara . Harisha founded the kingdom in about 1336, and he secured control over northern parts of Karnataka and Andhra iron coasts. After the death of Ballala III (1343) and his son Virupaksha Ballala (in 1346), the whole of the Hoysala dominion came under his control. His brother Bukka (1356-77) succeeded in destroying the Madhurai Sultanate. It is this prince who sponsored the writing of the monumental commentary on the vedas: Vedarthaprakasha; the work was completed in the days of his son Harihara II (13772404)

Krishnadevaraya (15092529) was the greatest emperor during his time. He was also a great warrior, scholar and administrator. He secured Raichur Doab in 1512, and later marched victorious into the capitals of his enemies like Bidar (1512) Bijapur (1523) and in the East, Cuttack (1518), the capital of the Gajapatis. His rule saw the reign of peace and prosperity.

In the days of Aravidu Ramaraya (1542-65), Krishnadevaraya's son-in-law, the four Shashi Sultans attacked the empire, and after killing Ramarya at Rallasathangadi (Rakkasagi-Tangadagi) in 1565, destroyed the capital Vijayanagara.

The Last Rulers:

With the weakening of the Mughul power in the North, the Marathas came to have control over the northern districts of Karnataka. Haidar Ali, Who used power from the Wodeyars of Mysore, merged the Keladi Kingdom in Mysore in 1763. Karnataka came under British rule after the overthrow of Tipu, Haidar's son in 1799 and the Marathas in 1818 (When the Peshwa was defeated). After having been subjected to a number of administrations during the British rule, Karnataka became a single state in 1956.

Karnataka