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Located 140 Kms from the state capital Bangalore– Mysore is the erstwhile capital of Wodeyars, the rulers of Mysore state. The Wodeyar family ruled Mysore since 14th century except for a short period of 40 years when Hyder n were the rulers. Mysore has never failed to mesmerise the tourists with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. The charm leaves no one untouched.
Mysore traces its history into the mythological books where there is reference of Mahishasur (Mahishasura) or the buffalo-headed demon king who is believed to have lived here. Goddess Chamundeshwari of Chamundi hills killed this demon and hence the Dussehra, the festival of the victory of good over evil, is celebrated with unprecedented grandeur. Today Mysore is one of the major cities of Karnataka. Mysore has emerged as a thriving market for exotic sandalwood & incense, the Mysore silk sarees and stone carved sculptures.

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Mysorepak

Having the cities name, this sweet is mouthwatering and delicious, but not for the diet concious!! This unique sweet is made from pure ghee, maida and sugar mixed in proper quantities. You can get Mysorpak in many parts of India, However, you should taste this sweet in Mysore. The taste is irresistable and tempting. For genuine mysorepak, go to “Guru Sweet Mart” on sayyaji rao road very near to palace and situated in city market building. People from city and sorrouding places flock this shop for sweets and savouries, you can see mysorepak packets with each person who visit this shop.

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Karnataka has a rich tradition of folk arts and folklore. Different branches of folk art like singing, drama, dance and puppet shows are popular in the rural parts of Karnataka. On different festivals and especially during Dasara these artistes visit the city of Mysore and perform. In the olden days they performed before the King, today they perform on the streets of Mysore or in specially designated areas during Dasara. Presentation of Folk Art by popular folk groups of the state has become an established and regular part of the Dasara celebrations.

These folk artistes form part of the famous Dasara procession as well. Bessu Kamsale, Somanakunitha and Yasksghagana the popular folk art of Karnataka form an integral part of the Dasara celebrations and the procession. Beesu Kamasale has been recognized as a leading folk art of India and many leading groups have taken part in national and international cultural festivals. Yakashgana is a nightlong stage play, where the actors enact episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata throughout the night.

This folk art is especially popularly in Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts of Karnataka are performed in Mysore. Folk art or indigenous art is an integral part of rural life and is handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Recognizing its importance Mysore University has set up a museum of Folk arts to collect artifacts related to the different folk arts in Karnataka. The University has also introduced a course in Folkarts at the Master’s Degree level.

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The ancient Indian culture had always made an interesting reading, as it had something significant to contribute in the field of human value system. Art is an integral part of culture. Therefore the study of art in the backdrop of our ancient culture makes it not only interesting but also in the process add rich value to our learning. Under this context a study of Mysore Paintings, a rich traditional art form of South India enables us to understand the rich cultural values of our past.

The state of Mysore (now called Karnataka) has a unique distinction of pioneering an attractive form of art during 17th and 18th centuries, which later became commonly known as the Mysore School. Historically, Mysore had been a place governed by many a rulers who had a strong passion for visual arts, which included architecture and painting. The intricate work which has been done on several of the temples, palaces and forts in Mysore stands testimony to the architectural and sculpting capabilities of the craft persons of Mysore in the earlier days.

  Raja Woodeyar(1578-1617 AD) is traced to have made some significant contribution to the cause of artists in the different parts of the erstwhile state of Mysore. He had even built two temples, one at Srirangapatna and the other at Ganjam for Nimishamba Devi, a deity worshipped by the artist community. Artists during this period were engaged in different forms of art which included decorative works in temples, painting temple cars and walls, making temple banners, painting portraits of rulers, saints and deities. It was during the reign of Mummadi Krishnaraja Woodeyar(after the death of Tippu Sultan in 1799 AD), Mysore witnessed a major fillip in the field of visual arts. The paintings during his period had a variety - murals depicting several scenes of Hindu mythology, portraits of heroes and kings, icons of Hindu mythology, strictly adhering to the iconography principles. These paintings found its place in temples, palaces, community buildings and houses belonging to royalty and rich merchants.

  In the traditional Mysore paintings, the artists used to prepare all the input materials required for executing the painting. This would include brushes, paints, board, gold foil etc. Artists used vegetable and mineral colours made out of pigments of leaves and flowers of various plants and minerals. Today the painting is done with commercially available media like poster and water colours. In the ancient times, paper,wood, wall and cloth formed the base for doing the painting. In modern times it is done mostly on paper pasted on to a board with glue or some other adhesive medium. 

After the preparation of the board, the required sketch is then made on the paper with a pencil. If a tracing of the sketch is already available it is then transferred on to the board with a carbon paper. In the earlier days, sketching was made with charcoal prepared by burning tamarind twigs in an iron tube. Colours made out of minerals were prepared by grinding the minerals in a stone mortar and then put in water to make them soft in form of a paste. Brushes were made of different materials, which included squirrel, camel and goat hair. Sometimes grass blades were also used for making sharp lines. Today, commercially available water and poster colours are used with brushes of different grade available in the market. Once the sketch is made, the gesso work is taken up on the area ear marked. Gesso work is normally done where embellishments are to be made. Design work is carried out on the mandapams, the jewelleries, the attire etc., with a specially prepared compound and a brush. On the completion of the work, after the compound dries, gold foils are placed over them and stuck firmly. Painting is subsequently done. After the painting is completed and it dries, a thin paper is placed on top of it and rubbed softly with a smooth soft stone to bring the richness in the relief work done with gold foil.Though the Mysore School is an art form bearing striking resemblance to the Mysore School, it may be noted that there are distinct differences in the style. While the Mysore School gives much of prominence to the relief work done with gold foil and embellishments with decorative stones, the Mysore school underplays the relief work. The Mysore School does not use stones, and the relief work is subtler.

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Mysore was the capital of the erstwhile Mysore State. During the reign of the Wodeyars, a person visiting the Durbar of the King had to wear the traditional Durbar dress, which consisted of white trousers, black long-coat and a turban. The only thing that has survived and continues to be identified with Mysore is the turban. During the reign of the Wodeyars wearing the turban with or without the golden lace around was more or less necessary. The turban was a status symbol. A person’s social status and position in the hierarchy of status was judged depending on the type of turban he wore.

Today though the traditional clothing like saree and dhothi is still used western clothing has become common. Especially among the younger generation western clothes have become more popular as they are more convenient and easy to maintain. Traditional attire is used only of special occasions like festivals, weddings etc. Young men prefer wearing western trousers to the traditional dhoti though they may use it within the confines of their homes. Young girls too prefer to wear the salwar-khameez instead of the traditional langa (long skirt) and dhavani (half saree). However the older generation continues to wear traditional clothing namely the saree and dhoti. Mysore is famous for its silks. Silk sarees continue to be a favourite among women of all generations. The cost of a Mysore silk saree can vary from a few hundreds to a few thousands.

Jewellery
Both men and women use ornaments, though women wear more gold jewellery. Married men usually wear a gold ring or a simple gold chain around their neck. Most women wear a nose-ring (moogu-bottu), earrings, bangles and rings. Nearly all the married Hindu women wear the Mangala Sutra, which consists of a Tali made of gold strung on a karimani sara (a chain of black beads).

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Mysore is a major city of Karnataka. Mysore has a rich and vibrant history and heritage and hence attracts a huge number of tourists. Mysore is known all over the world for its sandalwood and classic silks. Mysore has grand palaces, majestic temples and beautiful gardens all of which retain their old world charm to this day.

Mysore is located in the southern part of the Deccan Plateau. The district of Mysore is an undulating tableland that is partly covered by granite outcrops and fringed with lush green forests. The city is at 770m above sea level and 140kms from Bangalore, the state capital. Mysore has an area of 6,268 sq km and a population of 22,81,653 (1991 census). The city is also known as the City of Palaces, Mysore has always enchanted its visitors with its quaint charm.

Mysore has a warm and cool climate throughout the year. It has a salubrious climate. The climate of Mysore is moderate. The weather in winter is cool and the summers are bearable. The minimum temperature in winter is around 15 degrees Celsius and in summer the maximum temperature is around 35 degrees Celsius. Mysore gets most of its rains during the monsoon between June to September. Mysore average rainfall annually is around 86 centimeters.

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Mysore has been a city where all religions have co-existed in harmony for many centuries. Even when Mysore was culturally at its zenith under the Vijayanagar Empire and the Wodeyars the rulers always encouraged all religions and cultures without any discrimination. The continuous patronage and support of the Kings in every field led to the evolution of a distinct style known as the “Mysore Style” in the all the fields like painting, architecture, music, poetry etc. Over a period of time as this culture spread far and wide it was prefixed with the word “Mysore” to identify the unique cultural heritage. To this day in Karnataka the best quality jasmine flowers are referred to as Mysooru Maligae (Mysore Jasmine).

Over the years Mysore has become a cosmopolitan city with people from different walks of life living together peacefully. In Mysore people practicing different faiths live harmoniously. This has helped the city develop. The people of Mysore take part in each other’s festivals and celebrations. The Kings of Mysore have laid a strong foundation for communal harmony by making generous contributions towards religious centers of all religions. This tradition is still followed in Mysore.

The Hindu community is the largest religious community in the city. Muslims form another prominent community in the city and there is a sizeable population of Jains as well. One finds people from different parts of the country, speaking different languages, celebrating different festivals all co-existing peacefully. Though Mysore has become a modern city it has not lost touch with its tradition and culture. The ultimate expression of cultural unity is witnessed during the 10 daylong Dasara festivities that is synonymous with Mysore. The celebration not only includes religious ceremonies but also the decoration of houses, display of dolls, distribution of sweets to neighbours and children. The residents of Mysore have celebrated Dasara in this manner for decades.

The high point of the celebration in the olden days was the “Jamboo Savari” or the procession of the Maharaja on elephant back through the streets of Mysore. It is said that Dasara was celebrated in this manner from the times of the epics and was continued by all the Kings of Mysore. Even today Dasara is celebrated with the same pomp and splendor with some minor changes. Now the Royal Elephant carries the golden idol of Goddess Chamundhi in the splendid procession through the streets of Mysore. Though Mysore has become a modern city and has all the comforts of modern development, this city has managed to retain all its old world charm

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Mysore Silk

If you are a resident of Karnataka, then you will know that there are some things that are synonymous with the city of Mysore. Mysore Silks, Mysore Jasmine (Mysore Mallige), Mysore Sandalwood (Mysore Srigandha) and Mysore Eggplant (Mysore Badane) are the things that the city is famous for. For centuries now the city of Mysore has been famous for these things and this tradition continues to this day. The craftsmen of Mysore are equally famous. The city has some of the most beautiful and intricately carved temples in Karnataka. This tradition exists to this day, though the craftsmen use sandalwood and rosewood to carve on and make exquisite artifacts.

Mysore is known all over the world for its silks. The women in India and especially in South India have used silk sarees for a very long time. Silk sarees are worn especially on religious and auspicious occasions. The cost of a silk saree depends on the amount of ‘zari’ or gold it contains. Most sarees have gold lace on both edges of the saree and on it’s pallu-the part of the saree that is wrapped over the shoulder. There are private weavers in Mysore and there is the Government Silk Weaving Factory that produces beautiful silk sarees, silk fabric and ties. This factory has its showroom on Manandavadi Road and also in the shopping area around KR Circle in Mysore. There are numerous Private showrooms that sell Mysore silks. Mysore crepe silk sarees are the most sought after ones.

Handicrafts
Mysore is famous for its handicrafts as well. Most of the work is wood based. The artifacts are made out of sandalwood, rosewood and teakwood. In the olden days Mysore was known for its ivory handicrafts and inlay work. With the ban on ivory this craft has disappeared. Mysore is best known for its sandalwood artifacts and sandalwood products. Craftsmen produce figures of Gods, Goddesses, jewel boxes, small gift items etc. Sandalwood powder and sandalwood oil is also available. Inlay work on rosewood is also popular. Things like teapoys, coffee tables and other items of furniture are made. The best place to buy these things is the Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium of the Karnataka Handicrafts Development Corporation.

Agarbathies
Besides these items Mysore is also famous for Agarbathies or incense sticks. A large variety of incense sticks are manufactured by small and large manufactures. It is manufactured here using locally available perfumes like sandalwood and jasmine and the exported for Mysore and Bangalore to the rest of the world. Mysore is famous for its stone carvings and paintings as well. Oil based and water based paintings are famous. A branch of the traditional Mysore painting known as Ganjifa paintings that flourished under the patronage of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III has been revived. These paintings are of Hindu gods and goddesses. The best place to get all these items is the Government Handicrafts emporium in Mysore.

Other Ethnic Products
Stone Carving
Stone carving is another traditional art item of manufacture in Mysore. There are a number of sculptors, who carve excellent pieces of idols of gods and goddess, apart from other figures, mostly needed for temples and other auspicious places. Some of these master sculptors, who have their own centres in the city, have won State and National awards and reputed for their masterly works in stone. Some of their works have been installed in other places of the country. A few of their pieces have also been exported to other countries, mostly for installation in temples and religious centres.

Paintings
Mysore is a reputed place for good paintings. There are a number of artistes who produce some of the excellent art pieces in the traditional Mysore and other styles, including water colours and oil paintings. One branch that has become popular recently is the Ganjifa paintings. This ancient art, which was popular in Mysore during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, has been revived. These miniature paintings are mostly related to Hindu mythology, of gods and goddesses. They were being used as playing cards in the past. Some of the leading painters are M. Ramanarasaiah and Raghupathi Bhat.

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The word Mysore is derived from the word “mahishur” or “Mahishasurana Ooru”, which means the town of Mahishasura in Kannada, the local language. Mysore has been associated with the Puranic story found in the Devi Bhagavatha. According to the story in the Devi Purana, Mysroe was ruled by the demon Kind Mahishasura. Mahishasura was a buffalo-headed monster. In response to the prayer by the Gods and Goddesses to save them from the demon, Goddess Parvathi, took birth as Chamundeshwari and killed the monster on top of the Chamundi hill near Mysore. Hence the hill and the city have the names Chamundi Hill and Mysore respectively.

It is said that after killing the monster the Goddess stayed on top of the hill, where she is worshipped with great devotion to this day. The famous 10 daylong Dasara of Mysore is in honour of the Goddess Chamundeshwari and is a celebration of this victory of good over evil. Before the rise of the Gangas in the 10th century there is little historical evidence relating to Mysore. The Gangas established their supremacy in the 2nd century and they ruled over a large part of Mysore till about 1004 AD. In the 3rd century they established their capital at Talakad on the banks of the river Cauvery.

There is an inscription on Chamundi Hills that was done in 950AD during the reign of the Gangas. This inscription is the oldest inscription found in Mysore. The Cholas ruled Mysore for over a century after the Gangas. The Chalukyas followed the Cholas. The Hoysalas drove the Cholas from the remaining part of Mysore region in the 12th century. Hoysala are known for the beautiful temples they built during their reign. It is said that they built or expanded the existing temples in Mysore and on the Chamundi Hills. There is an inscription in Mysore by the Hoysalas that dates back to the 11th and 12th century.

After the Hoysalas came the Vijayanagar Kings and then the Mysore Yadu dynasty came to power in 1399A.D. They were the feudatories of the Vijayanagar Kings. This dynasty also contributed to temple building in Mysore. Bettada Chamaraja Wodeyar, the raja of Mysore rebuilt the fort of Mysore and made his headquarters and called the city ‘Mahishura Nagara’ meaning the city of Mahishur. Many inscriptions done in the 17th century and later refer to Mysore as ‘Mahishuru’. Raja Wodeyar moved the capital from Mysore to Srirangapatna. After the death of Tippu Sultan in 1799, Mysore became the capital of the Wodeyars once again.

During the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III the town of Mysore expanded and moved beyond the walls of the fort. Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV developed Mysore into a beautiful city with excellent planning. Under his reign Mysore became famous for its wide roads, magnificent building and elegant parks. Today Mysore is a modern city that has managed to retain its quaint old world charm. Today Mysore in famous in the world for its sandalwood and rosewood artifacts, stone sculptures, incense sticks, inlay work with ivory and its exquisite silk sarees

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Mysore Dasara or Dussehra is a Royal Festival Celebration in Mysore India, in its true sense it symbolizes the victory of Truth over Evil. A great legend has been associated with the Dussehra Festival, Durga - the Goddess of power killed the demon Mahishasuran on Vijayadashami day.

¤ Mysore Dussehra
The Significance

Mysore Dussehra is one of the most important and renowned Dussehra festival of India.
In Mysore, Dasara is observed as State festival also known as ‘Nadahabba’, because of the special initiation taken by the Royal Family of Mysore in the festival celebrations.

It is a 10-day celebration and ends on Vijayadashami Dussehra Day. The day marks the successful conclusion of the preceding nine days. The first six days are celebrated in the honor of goddess Saraswathi. Eight day is dedicated to Durga and ninth day is for Lakshmi- the goddess of wealth. On tenth day a grand procession is held from Mysore Palace and terminates at Bannimantap.

¤ The Festival Commemoration in MysoreDuring the festive season the entire city is decorated and lightened in a most impressive way, that attracts thousands of tourists to the city. The Palace and other important buildings are also embellished and illuminated - worth a sight.

Majestic processions, a torch light parade, dance and musical events vitalize the placid city. Many cultural programs are organized in the Mysore Palace, performed by famous artists. Sport events, poet’s meet, food festival, film festival are also held. The famous Dasara exhibition is organized at Doddakere Maidana, by the Karnataka Exhibition Authority, where many public and private sector, State Government departments and other business class set up their stalls to promote their industries. Craft fairs, traditional wrestling matches are other highlights of the exhibition.

¤ The Royal Celebrations

The royal family of Mysore performs special pooja on the occasion of Dasara. The most favored site for the Mysore Dasara is Amba Vilas Palace, also known as the Diwan-e-Khas. The palace is decorated with remarkably designed inlay works of ivory, colored motifs and creatively drawn designs made from jasper, carbuncle and resin.

On the first day of Navratra, the king, after a ceremonial bath, worships the family deity in the palace and enters the hall with the echoes of sacred chants and music. He worships the navagrahas (nine sacred deities) and the sacred `kalasa’. Then he takes his seat on the throne at an auspicious moment after going around it three times. The palace lights are lit and a 21-gun salute is given as the royal emblem and swords are presented to king.

The king sits on the throne and receives guests. He accepts blessing by palace priests who chants Vedic hymns and sprinkling holy water. Blowing of conches and trumpets announces the beginning of a royal parade of uniformed soldiers and elephants.

¤ The Dussehra Procession

The most significant feature of the festival is the ‘Dasara Procession’ held on Vijayadashami or the tenth day. It is led by highly decorated elephants that carry idol of goddess Chamundeswari well seated on a golden throne placed on an elephant seat. Hundreds of decorated horses, folk dancers, courtiers, nobles, soldiers, and colorful visitors follow the procession.

The procession starts from the Maharaja’s palace to the torch light parade ground gate and winds its way through the city in the backdrop of the Chamundi hills. The festive celebrations are concluded by a closing ceremony that includes - cultural programs from different states, gymnastic and horseback rider events, followed by a torch light tattoo and fireworks. Thousands of visitors throng the region during Dussehra Festival and witness the ceremonies and the celebrations.

¤ The Highlights of The Festival

Today, Dasara is marked by cultural events and musical performances performed by world-renowned musicians at the Amba Vilas Palace, the exhibition at Doddakere Maidan and the colorful Vijayadasami parade are the main attractions of Dasara. The festival has also gained importance as an advertisement of the cultural diversity and achievements of Karnataka. By patronizing the event, the government has attained a great success in exhibiting the rich heritage of the region thereby giving a boost to tourism and folk arts.

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