Mysore Dasara - A festival of Indian culture - heylos

Mysore has a rich history with many pre-historic sites, monuments, forts, temples, mosques and churches depicting the archaeological, architectural and heritage value of the region. Mysore possesses excellent fauna and flora, rivers, hillocks, lakes and a moderate climate.

Mysore is the third largest city in Karnataka, India which served as the capital city of Mysore Princely Kingdom (Kingdom of Mysore) for nearly 6 centuries, from 1399 until 1947. The Kingdom of Mysore was ruled by the Wodeyar dynasty. The cultural ambience and achievements of Mysore earned it the sobriquet Cultural Capital of Karnataka.

With founding of Mysore dynasty in 1399 AD by Yaduraya, Mysore has seen 25 rulers. Till emergence of Raja Wodeyar in 1578 AD, the Mysore Kingdom was a small feudatory Kingdom under the Vijayanagar Empire. With the fall of Vijayanagar Empire in 1565 AD, the Wodeyars inherited and perpetuated the traditions of Vijayanagar Empire. Raja Wodeyar ascended the throne in 1610 AD, in Srirangapatna, the erstwhile capital and inaugurated the Dasara Festivities which are still celebrated with all grandeur. The most celebrated Kings after Raja Wodeyar who contributed to the cultural heritage of Mysore are Ranadhira Kanthirava Narasaraja Wodeyar (1638 -1659 AD), Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar (1673 -1704 AD), Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar (III) (1799 – 1868 AD), Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar (IV) (1902 -1940 AD) and Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar from 1940 till the establishment of the Republic of India.

Between 1761 and 1799, Hyder Ali along with his son Tippu Sultan ruled the State. With the defeat of Tippu Sultan by the British at Srirangapatna in 1799, five years old Prince Krishnaraja Wodeyar (III) was installed as the King of Mysore, on the throne of his ancestors. Wodeyars contributed a great deal towards arts and culture. Palaces, temples, the Mysore school of traditional painting, women’s schools and colleges and music maestros bear witness to the liberal grants and patronage of Mysore kings.

Mysore was the only highly industrialized and progressive native state in India in steel, silk, soaps and hydro-electricity. The kingdom was benefited from visionaries like Sir Mirza Ismail and Sir M. Visveswaraya who served under the Wodeyars as Dewans.

The city is also known, throughout the world, for the pomp and gaiety with which the traditional Dasara Festival is held here annually during the Navaratri. The tourists would throng the city from all over the country and abroad in great numbers to witness the Jamboo Savari(Elephants’ procession), the chief attraction on the occasion in which decorated elephants walk the procession route, majestically. The Maharaja used to sit in the howdah earlier.

The tradition was maintained in full vigour for more than a decade even after the country acquired independence. Now, under the changed political and administrative conditions, Dasara is being organized in the city in a modified form as Naada Habba, festival of the land. On the tenth day of the festival, the grand procession of Goddess Chamudenshwari accompanied by umpteen tableaux is the chief attraction.

Festivities were first started by the Wodeyar King, Raja Wodeyar I (1578-1617 CE) in the year 1610. The Mysore Palace is lit up on all the 10 days of Dasara. The festivities begin with the Wodeyar royal couple performing a special puja to Goddess Chamundeshwari in the Chamundi Temple located on the top of Chamundi Hill at Mysore. This would be followed by a special durbar (royal assembly). It was during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in the year 1805, when the king started the tradition of having a special durbar in the Mysore Palace during Dasara, which was attended by members of the royal family, special invitees, officials and the masses.

This tradition has been continued even now with the current scion of the Wodeyar family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar holding a private durbar during Dasara. The ninth day of Dasara called as Mahanavami is also an auspicious day on which the royal sword is worshipped and is taken on a procession involving elephants, camels and horses.

On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession (locally known as Jamboo Savari) is held on the streets of Mysore city. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed in a golden howdah on the top of a decorated elephant. This idol is worshipped by the royal couple and other invitees before it is taken around in the procession. Colourful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, armed forces, folklores, the royal identities, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called Bannimantap, where the Banni tree (Prosopis spicigera) is worshipped.

According to a legend of the Mahabharata, Banni tree was used by the Pandavas to hide their arms during their one-year period of Agnatavasa (living life incognito). Before undertaking any warfare, the kings traditionally worshipped this tree to help them emerge victorious in the war. The Dasara festivities would culminate on the night of Vijayadashami with an event held in the grounds at Bannimantap called as Panjina Kavayithu (torch-light parade).

Another major attraction during Dasara is the Dasara exhibition which is held in the exhibition grounds opposite to the Mysore Palace. This exhibition starts during Dasara and goes on till December. Various stalls which sell items like clothes, plastic items, kitchenware, cosmetics and eatables are set up and they attract a significant amount of people. A Game area containing attractions like Malla Yudha or kusti and Ferris-wheel is also present to provide entertainment to the people. Various Governmental agencies setup stalls to signify the achievements and projects that they have undertaken.

Come join us for the celebration - heylos

heylos intends to cover the dasara for those who cant make it
So keep watching us, more to come

cheers,

heylos 

for the creative, art, culture and many more

Our Trip to Dudhsagar Falls Via Chennai Express

It all started when me and Santy went to watch the movie Chennai Express , like every other girl I am a die hard fan of romantic hero of our times Shah Rukh Khan. I was awestruck when the scene of train passing by the milky white waterfall roaring and gushing down a rocky surface with breathtaking view of lush greenery and train passing by in the foreground, then the train stops only for Deepika and SRK to alight from train which doesn't happen in real life though.. that was the moment felt I want to visit this place and told Santy lets go here,, for which the immediate response from Santy was : that's "Dudhsagar"… and " i have been telling about it since 3 years,,now after SRK showed this in film u wanna go..?"  like a small kid i just dint have any words to say except for a smile.:)

(Wanna check our video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4vNtJnU4T8)

Dudhsagar became my must visit place for 2013 ,It is the fifth highest waterfall in India with mighty river Mondovi gushing down the rocks, One can truly experience the incredible force of nature here.

Trip,trek,and fun weekend full of surprises began when Santy, Rinku and me decided to visit the  falls and surprise our other gang members who had planned well in advance to visit the place.

We boarded from Bangalore yeshwantpur station for "Vasco Chennai Express" which leaves at 9.30pm . we became friends with ticket collector and met couple of other strangers who were travelling to "Goa" .

Early next day morning at 7.30 the TC woke us up for a cup of chai together as he seemed to like our happy company .TC of Indian Railways was such a kind person and shared his experience of traveling in the same train everyday and how he sees the changing levels of waterfall, fog, shooting of the movie chennai express , how he got to meet the stars,water gushing inside the train when it passes the waterfall during peak season in July. we were like really!!!! buckets of water getting inside train?? wow this is truly unbelievable. 

Train passes through 10 tunnels till it reaches Dudhsagar station indeed it was fun screaming at all the 10 times where it echoes mutilple folds..it will seems like a wolf pack howling as everybody follows you for the scream, I personally recommend this for everyone to try this scream.

AT around 9.00 am we reached "CastleRock" station, it was very hot and  humid day and hence the TC suggested us to alight further down at Dudgsagar station itself which is just 1km before  the falls and then trek towards khulem ghat track to get the most loved scene of the waterfall from the view points. Train passes by Braganza ghats, Caranzol ,and then Dudhsagar, all the names here are very much portuguese and Goa is just a stone's throw away.

Further at 10 am we arrived at the station, but there is no platform ..quire funny but true, all the stops after castlerock have no platforms . we  got down on the railway tracks and walked about 1 km till we reached the falls .as soon as u walk some distance u can hear the sound of the falls which made us walk faster and more inquisitive to see what it looks like.
 

That was jaw dropping moment, i had never witnessed anything like this. all i could  feel was my heart beating so fast and it took time for me into sink into the beauty, all 3 of us kept looking at the falls, almost silent for more than 15 min, then we spoke to each other with a big smile, took lot of pictures , walked down the steps next to the bridge towards the bottom of the falls where the water divides again to fall further down, and yes no one is allowed to take a dip there as its very dangerous..

after spending close to 2 hrs at the falls we had a yummy break of bun with hot tea and poha( rice puffs mixture) which u will get in the small tapri(canteen) ,opposite to the falls. Tea never tasted so great until now.

we crossed 2 more tunnels and finally reached the spot which is the most loved view by all its also called view point with just a stone bench next to the track. we got company of strangers and monkeys together with whom we shared our food and drinks,

it was almost 4 pm and was time to head back , while crossing the tunnel there is a small waterfall which seeps next to tunnel , one person ran and stood under the fall ,next the whole gang joined the bathing team singing and dancing to the tune of nagin nagin and lungi dance..

people who trekked for 14 kms from castlerock reached at around 4.30pm and were starting to pitch the tents..these people halt overnight and cook in front of the falls and trek back the next day morning. 

there were close to 500 people who had visited the falls on weekend that day and about 100 odd camped overnight, it was very crowded this time, we were to come back the same day hence at 5.00 pm we reached the dudsagar station back and were waiting for the train  to board back to bangalore. . there is a ayi(lady) who serves hot pulao  near the station which is infact really tasty and home made ..

This waterfall keeps the spirit high of every individual: this pic speaks a thousand words

finally the train arrived at 5.15 pm and we boarded the train and train stops for not more than 3 min so u need to get into it as quickly as possible.

on our way back in train we played bluff card game with total strangers  who became our good friends ,shared our feeling for this place and they seem to be visiting the waterfalls soon too.

It was a fun loaded weekend for the 3 of us as already been mentioned on Rinku FB status, with Rinku's wallet getting lost,crazy untimely nature call,getting literally attacked by the monkeys, and lungi dance,getting lost in the station and a memorable dhudhsagar falls trip.

WHERE IS IT LOCATED:

Dudhsagar is located at the border of Karnataka and Goa. The waterfalls is another one km walk on the railway tracks from the station

HOW TO REACH:

By Rail: Dudhsagar has a small railway station listed as DDS in the rail network with most passing trains stopping by, The waterfall is less than a kilometer from station. Other major rail heads nearby are Castle Rock (CLR), Kulem (QLM) and Londa (LD).From Bangalore you could take Vasco chennai express Train No: 17311 and back the bangalore link express Train No: 02779

By Road: Vehicles can reach only until the bottom of the falls from Kulem, Goa. Jeeps are available for hire and it’s best to drive in a SUV.

You can even drive up to Castle rock station and start trekking.

By trek: It is the best and most scenic route to reach Dudhsagar. Though there are couple of mud,ghat trek ways, the railway track trek to Dudhsagar, can become most memorable with all those seasonal waterfalls and landscapes.

Castlerock- 15kms and should take about 5-6 hrs for an average person.  Caranzol - 8kms  if 15km seems far

dudhsagar -1km- ideal for trek further to khulem to get the most loved view , 

It happens only in India ,If you are lucky then a goods loco would stop by when you ask for a lift! But do not risk jumping in front of it or into the running train!

STAY:

If you are carrying your own tents then there is an open cement ground big enough to pitch about 25 tents. There is a small roofed shed that can house about 25-30 people and available on first come first serve basis. Apart from these there is an abandoned house which could be used as shelter. 

FOOD:

A small canteen caters to the needs and serves tea,biscuits,boiled egg,poha , else at the station there will be a lady serving pulao.

THINGS TO CARRY:

1)Torch when passing in tunnels

2)extra pair of clothes if you plan to have fun under small waterfalls nearby.

3)camera/Mobile with camera to capture the moments.

(Wanna check our video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4vNtJnU4T8)

Cheers
heylos

Craziness Of Xaviness by Heylos

Originally from Hyperspace,XAVI grew up in the Washington DC metro area. At age 12, he discovered and became obsessed with Graffiti Art. This fresh new art form, would be Xavi's primary influence for years to come. Underground rap music was the soundtrack for these times, and skateboarding was the scene.

In the early 90's, Xavi found techno music and the DC / Baltimore rave culture. Cutting-edge computer graphics, and the exotic graphic designs of rave flyers added a powerful futuristic flavor to the visual mix.
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Ecstatic dance-floor experiences inspired new thematic directions, and ideas like paradise, eternity, and synesthesia began to emerge.1996 marked a great shift, when Xavi and his Family moved to Arizona. 

The monumental rock architectures and lush canyons of northern Arizona were Xavi’s gateway into the ultimate design science: Nature. From here on, the living patterns, shapes, forms and colors of nature would be Xavi's greatest teacher.

Along with nature, the art of indigenous cultures such as the pacific northwest Native Americans, and Australian Aborigines were influential.

For many years Xavi has been a leader in the global Visionary Art movement, creating large multi-media installations, murals, fashions, and fine art at venues, galleries and festivals around the world.

To know more of his work on fb visit xavi Panneton,www.xavidesigns.com