Deepak Thimaya, the man behind ‘Mysooru Utsava’—the “Fun for all, Mass entertainment, Unique variety artistic presentation,” as the ads shout—to be held from July 26-29, talks of the reasoning and rationale behind having an extravaganza so close to Dasara.
Thimaya, who hosts a popular interview-based programme on Udaya Television, also invites churumuri readers across the world to put on their thinking caps, and proactively contribute ideas and suggestions on how the four-day Utsava could be made even better.
Also read: CHURUMURI POLL: Does Mysore need a Utsava?
perhaps we can hope that this festival can be leveraged to spruce up some public places like the dodda gaDiyara & chikka gaDiyara in Mysore.
perhaps this festival can be used as travelling jaathre which brings focus to one particular area in mysore each year. for example, say this year jatha will be in south mysore, next year east mysore and so on…
public spaces, roads, lights, parks etc of that area could then perhaps get special attention during that year.
Ree Deepak..Forget what should be done, here is my wish list of what should not be done:
Dont Litter
Dont create traffic chaos
Dont pollute the city
Dont be loud
Dont crawl to politicos demands
Dont suck upto sponspors and kill the spirit of event
Dont ruin kannambadi katte
Dont forget to honour emiment mysoreans
Dont ignore mysoreans at the event in your zeal to please all
If poss, pls rid of those ugly back lit hoardings on the median in front of the crawford hall..that will be favour
Good luck
andy , should we add
Dont sell churumuri :))
beda sir..KP may misunderstand and block us from the blog !
cheers
It may not be a bad idea to stop carping and start contributing. So many of us are so often complaining about Dasara being the same old thing. Maybe this is a good time to make the change we want to see.
Thimaya doesn’t say if this is a regular event or just something he is doing just this once for G.T. Deve Gowda. Even presuming the latter, I think he should not try to ape Yuva Dasara, which started out with the very premise he is advocating here.
Mysooru Utsava has to be qualitatively, quantitatively different. It’s easy to do a Bangalore Habba because Bangalore doesn’t have a Dasara like Mysore. But doing something in Mysore which is not a replica of the Dasara is tough.
For what it is worth, here is my two-bit. May I suggest a Mini Marathon for the 50-plus? May I suggest a grand lecture by say Narayana Murthy? May I suggest a Brain of Mysore kind of quiz for college students? May I suggest a Western Classical concert? May I suggest a human chain on the day of the finale? May I suggest more local events?
Just curious to know if there is a lecture by Narayana Murthy which language wld it be delivered in :) !? And in any case it wont be grand at all- there is something in whatever that man does which makes even the most inspiring thing seem tedious.
Nicely observed, Gaby!
Cleaning up Mysore and providing shelter from the sun to the various agricultural produce sellers will make this Mysore Utsava more memorable. Also, a concerted effort should be made to build clean and affordable public toilets in Mysore.
Wow I just saw the clown’s video and the first question that springs to mind is what does he have on mind- a cultural event that isnt about culture, different but not different, making entertainment and culture sound mutually exclusive- he is nuttier than a fruit cake. Is he the only character this minister found to carry out this monumental task:)- while there arent toilets anywhere in the tourist square mile, Chamundi Hills; Devaraja Market rots and asking these basic amenities would be construed as carping by clowns such as this one and finally man what’s with the funny accent???!!!
Well done, Gaby! I could not bear to listen to this ..”different but not different…” Mr. Inanity.
His accent will be regarded ‘posh’ because many Kodavas feel very superior speaking this kind of English:)
Gaby, own up to it. You are just jealous. It is easy to insult someone in the under the anonymity this site offers. You know you are your best behind the veils of your insignificance. I am a fan of this guy and I am sure there are many more. Whatever is your accent, anyway, who listens to you? Atleast, he has the guts to face criticism from people like you who have no no credit to claim. All the best. I think you need to suggest things here, not make pointless criticism and try experiment your hard earned English on us.
Indra your words suggest that you might actually be jealous of me- poor ol’ me??!!:)
Gaby/DB…neevibbaru discussionna hijack maadthaa idheera. Suggest something that could do a bit of good to our city.
Few things that occur to me – could be considered during DASARA as well…but…
Special performances at Rangayana running throughout the night by engaging NINAASAM, Yakshagana artists and other artists from various of parts Karnataka with a running pantry;
Lakes – Dalvoy, Lingambuddi, Karanji and Kukkarahalli could be special attractions without disturbing the aquatic life and the birds;
Well organized street cafes are a fad amongst travelers and could be promoted where the pollution levels are insignificant.
The few good restaurants/resorts that have come up in the outskirts should be enticed to show case the event with special traditional programmes on the lines of what they do on the eve of New Year;
Volvo buses from BMTC (or have few permanently for Mysore) could be used during this time to show case the best of Mysore; even the open top buses could be used for the purpose.
Sandal oil factory – couldbe be made a museum. Silk factory too could be included with live demonstration of the process of making silk. Traditional crafts and incense stick making that are very typical to Mysore could be showcased as well.
Clean Devraja Mkt, maintain it well on the lines of the Spice Bazaars of the Middle East countries, keep traffic out of Sayyaji Rao Road during these days, conduct cultural programmes at Chikka Gadiyaara and Town Hall.
Many many more well maintained toilets and a walking or a cycling friendly Mysore.
Excellent suggestions, Arun.
How does an idea of a potluck sound? Everybody cooks and brings something along to a place where we can all eat the other person’s offering, and make new friends.
Can we have street side pagade and other traditional sporting contests?
AS…
i swear i had typed in cookout before i deleted it.
Arun as as always on the ball.
best idlis best churumuri best dose best manchuria best pani puri
excellent ideas pagaDe aLguLimane gaaLi paTa perhaps
Ree Arun!
,,,”Cleaning up Mysore and providing shelter from the sun to the various agricultural produce sellers will make this Mysore Utsava more memorable. Also, a concerted effort should be made to build clean and affordable public toilets in Mysore…”
This is what I said earlier. I don’t want some dumb ‘youth’ leader going on about some inanities!!
potluck and traditional games…olley ideas…and churumuri as the official dish of the event??? some simlar status to nanjangudina rasabaale, eley-adke
DB avare…sorry nodlilla previous comment…your suggestion should be a permanent one and not just confined to these 4 days…a hygenic place where they come early in the morning, sell and leave by 9 am…
TS – nimma original idea of Mysore-Walk?
Thank you, Arun. What you suggest is 100% correct–just go around the race course and see for yourself! All these ‘inequalities’ are simply not visible to our IT netas like Mr. Indian Idol. Instead he will be more comfortable letting the Indian team practice in his campus and so on…
arun…
mysore-more permanent year around. ;)
but if thimmayya can get even some parts of it done nothing like it.
your idea about lakes. imagine a leelavathi recital or a vasundhara doreswamy performance on lingambudi or dalvoy.
TS
As tantalizing as these possibilities are do we have to freely express ourselves outdoors, our mundane movements? Don’t we deserve better toilets?
you are correct DB.
a sublabha souchalaya would be better placed at the makkaji chowk than that ill conceived mall.
Basic amenities are what we are asking- toilets, hygeine, drinking water, pedestrian/cycle friendly environment – available round the year- in perhaps the busiest tourist square mile in Karnataka- and we go off onto giving suggestions to these half baked clowns to organise UTSAVAs in order to get these which BTW half a century of Dasara cldnt get for Mysore.
The city spirit of Mysore must be sick of these large melas and one suggestion for this weariness is lots of tableaus !! (see the video if you dont understand ).
One suggestion I can make is for people to read Masti’s Navaratri.
Gaby
We all can relate to the frustrations you have expressed here. Given the material you have to work with in the likes of DT, we can be a little more constructive. I know, it is the devil quoting the scriptures and all that. All DT has to do is ensure the black spots in Mysore CBD be removed and in its place place hygienic facilities without totally eradicating the street vendors–at least do not unleash state terrorism on poor vendors.
From the video it is quite clear to me that DT would not know his ‘art’ elbow from his ‘bottom’–at least in that direction he will get ample help. DT if you are reading this, don’t take it to heart–make a difference by ensuring clean sustainable Mysore Utsav and you will be a great man for that. Thanks!
…forgot about the Tongas…well decked ones on may be dedicated lanes on some routes…and one person to clean up the route frequently…hope DT and GTD keep this an apolitical affair…
Deepak,
Good luck! Sorry to nitpick but you need to watch your English. There is no word called Sponsorers -it is Sponsors.
I watched the video again. I don’t think he said sponsorers though it sounds so. Listen carefully. I am sure he knows it. Hey guys, why deflect attention from the original purpose. I think the guy is trying something and let us help him.
I listened again now. He said sponsors. I bet. I think Anil Kumar heard it in his dream. LOL
Deepak .. Guru neevu ‘Master genius of Karnataka’ program chennagi nedasthidheera astakke yitkoLLi .
Yivalla Jaathre yaake beku siva ??
Dheeranna, Jaatre illdidre jana marulagalla gurugale , jana marulo jaatre marulo sambulingan …… marulo , nadisli bidi gurugale.
i wish many many happy returns of day sir.