Malali: “Culture is important largely because it keeps us connected to our old life and is a reminder of our roots”, says Devraj, the ex-chairman of Malali gram panchayat. Malali is a village in H.D. Kote in Mysore District and is only one and half an hour from Mysore.
Malali is a resettled village just like 32 other villages in the area which was submerged after the construction of Kabini dam in 1974. However, the Mahadeshwara temple, a famous temple in the area was spared. The cultural life of the all the villages still revolve around this sacred Shiva temple. “It is our ancestral temple and we all pray there on every occasion”, says Satish, a resident of Malali.
Devraj sat on the portico, putting the invitation cards in the brown envelope. “These are invitations to each and every household in all the 33 villages who look forward to this ‘yatra’, he said. He showed a lot of enthusiasm as he spoke about their colorful annual temple festival.
“It is a three day annual festival and all of us go to the temple by crossing the river. Since the temple did not get submerged we are able to carry out all our traditional rituals “, he says.
But the temple festival that all the villages look forward to each year is more than just a religious ‘ritual or pilgrimage’. It is festival which brings together people cutting across religion and caste affiliations. A resident of Malali, Puttetappa said that the Mahadeshwara temple festival is not exclusive to upper caste Hindus; it includes all the 33 villagers.
Devraj says, “It is a festival which is completely organised and sponsored by villagers”. The Muslims and Christians even donate more than the Hindus and show equal zest in participating in all the events. The Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes also participate.
Devraj gave a few photos from his personal album and these photos speak a lot about the vibrancy, colorfulness and euphoria associated with the Madeshwara Temple festival every February. The interior of the temple is spacious and the structure is largely supported by many pillars. It is coloured in yellow and there are shades of white and blue in the walls and roof.
The ‘inner temple’. Photo credits: Guru Studio, H D Kote
The three day festival initiates with the ritualistic bath of Lord Mahadeshwara (Shiva) as the idol is decorated and taken for a boat ride. The lord is worshipped in a traditional fashion accompanied with the sound of drums and conch shells. Then the idol of Shiva is taken in a chariot with a procession. The procession is carried out with the sound of traditional musical instruments and bells.
Lord Shiva taken on a boat ride and the ritual bath. Photo credits: Guru Studio, H D Kote
The chariot is a very important part of the festival. The chariot seems to be around 12 feet in height and is a riot of colours. It is vertical and triangular in shape and made up of bamboos, tied together in jute ropes and nuts. Then the chariot is covered with colourful and glittering clothes of different colours. The villagers then sit together for lunch beside the river bank and the ‘prasadam’ is distributed.
The chariot. Photo credits; Guru Studio, H D Kote.
Another attraction of the festival is the ‘cattle exhibition’. The cows and bullocks are taken to the fair decorated with flowers of myriad hues and their horns painted or wrapped with red cloth. The cattle are taken to the festival as a part of the tradition and there is no selling or buying of cattle in the fair.
One of the photographs shows people from different communities and tribes gathered together to witness the cultural programs of dance, drama and music performed by children in the late evening. Devraj says, “It is through this festival that we go back to our old life for a while and stay in touch with our people”.
Festivals like this prove that religion can also bring communities closer and is not always a source of clash and conflicts.
