BAPU SATYANARAYANA writes: During the 1940s and ‘50s almost every house in Mysore used to have mallige growing in profusion in the open area either in front of the house or at the rear. Mallige creepers would adorn the compound and snake their way around the house in thick bushes.
In the evenings these buds, glittering like pearls, presented a magnificent view. And their divine fragrance would waft in with the evening breeze, thrilling the olfactory organs of residents and passers-by.
For the children, both boys and girls, it was great fun to pick these fragrant buds from the creepers, collect them in a butti, and hand them over to their mothers.
The mother in turn would patiently string them together, expertly, with her nimble hands, and when finished she would lovingly adorn the plait of the girls.
Then the children would rush around to play with their friends of the same age who would all be similarly decked by their mothers (and aunts and grandmothers).
In fact, this was the usual activity during the evenings in almost all houses in the Mysore of yore.
There used to be a competition among girls in the neighbourhood for hoovina jade which would thickly adorn the plait. It used to look magnificent and girls would exhibit it unabashedly.
Nowadays, only the dancers sport jasmine. What was once the trademark of Mysore has now shifted its base to Tamil Nadu where mallige is a thriving, flourishing industry.
This is probably another ill-effect of the construction boom. With buildings occupying most of the land area it is a luxury to have open space or to grow mallige.
So, only the memories remain.
Memories of unforgettable sights like young girls in hoovina jade getting into a tonga or an autorickshaw to be photographed.
Memories of unforgettable compositions like Ghama ghamamaadisuthhava mallige by Daa Ra Bendre or Ele ele mallige balukuve mallige balliya meleri by D.S. Karki.
Parameshwara Bhatta has immortalised it in his collection of poems under the title Mysore Mallige which perhaps depicts uncomplicated lifestyle of Mysoreans.
With girls opting for bob-cuts, there is no place for mallige in their hair.
In fact I have observed a new phenomenon, call it a transformation, it is the maidservants who invariably adorn their plaits with a generous bunch of mallige!
Without sounding condescening, it appears to me it is our maidservants who are keeping alive a great and grand tradition of Mysore.
And not just the wearing of it. During earlier times mallige used to be grown in and around Mysore—near N. R. Mohalla, behind St. Philomena’s church, and in Srirangapatna.
We now have to depend upon Tamil Nadu which sends every day about Rs 3 lakh worth of flowers to Mysore, the earliest supply reaching via Chamarajanagar around 10 in the morning.
I wonder if the mallige—one of Mysore’s most famous natural products along with silk and sandal—will soon go out of fashion and if it will only remain in the minds of the coming generations. As sepia memories of times past.
In a similar vein, another item that has already gone out of fashion is the traditional headgear – Mysore “peta”- now worn only by grooms for a few hours during weddings, or rented out from period dramas/films.
If the fashion sense of the seventies are making a comeback (polka dotted dresses, modified bell bottoms, etc), all hope is still not lost for the mallige making a reappearance as a fashion accessory.
Dependence on Tamil Nadu for mallige is not a recent phenomenon – I remember my mother reminiscing about the time of arrival (in Bangalore) of the Madras Mail and the availability of “ambur” mallige – during the 60’s and 70’s.
Forgive me for taking yet another detour – I am currently staying in the Gulf, and it pains me to have to refer to mallige as “malli poo” even when talking to kannidigas – have so many of us forgotten kannada?
Mysore “peta”- now worn only by grooms for a few hours during weddings, or rented out from period dramas/films.
No! that is not Mysore Peta! Mysore peta was a cloth with silver jhari, neatly pressed and worn/tied every alternate day.
ee “peta”na namma mane rasteli iro smashaaNekke thogond hogo heNakku haakthare!
Bapu Satyanarayanaji,
Sorry for this silly question. Do you have a mallige creeper in your House ?
I remember Late Mr. T.P.Issar a great votary of Tree Park did not have any trees inside his compound. Where as his neigbhors on either side had more open space and couple of Tress !
I knew one Mr. Bapu seetharam working at BEL long ago . Your Brother ?
K S Narasimhaswamy immortalized ” Mysore Mallige”. Not another great poet S V P Bhatta. Narasimhaswamy was known as Mallige Kavi.
His poetry collection Mysore Mallige is considered one of the best literary works in Kannada. Khoday Group produced a movie based on Mysore Mallige lyrics. Mysore Ananthaswamy, C Ashwath etc popularized Mysore Mallige songs…………
Dear Sri Jeevarathna
Yes I have elu sutthina mallige and also malle in my compound. I happen to be the brother of H.R.Bapu Seetharam. D.P.Satish I am sorry for the goof-up. Thanks
Ravi,
Then what is the name of the turban that used to be worn by eminent Mysoreans like Sir M Visvesarayya and that is no longer seen these days?
Or is it time to declare that turban, by whatever name it is called, officially dead?
What Sir MV and other Diwans and other Durabari’s wore was a typical Mysore pETa – white scarf with golden border and was tied around the head in that typical fashion every day. But what you see now is a ready made pETA which can be worn like a tOpi or hat . This is similar to what the ursu gentlemnen used to wear normally. I think what the Maharaja’s used to wear regularly also used to be similar in style but with better quality material and in various colours.
hey guys i want the mysore mallige songs guys but i cant find it on the market nor do i find it for download! anyone knows whr i can buy the cd or dwn ld it on the net .
nimge aadhu Bangalore nalli siguthe..
athava Online aadhre nimge
http://www.totalkannada.com nalli siguthe
I am writing a book on the life of Bangalore Nagarathnammal and am looking for information on two men
1. Giribhatta Thimmayya Sastry who was a Sanskrit scholar at the Mysore Palace in the 1880s and 1890s
2. Justice Narahari Rao who was a judge in the Mysore Court during the 1890s.
If someone has any information please pass them on. Extremely grateful for any help in this regard.
Regards
Sriram V
Dear Sathayanarayanaji,
I have been searching for elu suttina mallige creaper. I enquired in Lalbhag, GKVK, Horticulture dept no where it is available. One of our neighbour had this creaper, but they did not know the value of it. They destroyed it. That time I was in abroad other wise I could have take some kombe to plant. I fact I took around 10 kombes and planted in my house and in my neighbour’s house and in mu inlaw’s house in holenarasipura but it did not grow. If you give me your contct whereever you are I will come and collect it. Right nbow I am in Africa coming to Bangalore in this month end for three weeks.
my mail id is manjuelect@rediffmail.com
Neevu namagondu ballikottare nimma elu suttina mallige kampu namma manegoo pasarisuttade
Regards,
Manjunatha