Mangaluru: The organisations willing to participate in the procession of Mangaluru Dasara along with tableaux need to concentrate on a good theme which highlights the culture and tradition of the region and Hindu mythology. If any association comes with a vague idea which doesn’t show any importance of native culture, tradition or doesn’t have any message to the society will not be entertained during this year’s Dasara procession.
Usually, there will be more than 60 tableaux during the Mangaluru Dasara procession. These tableaux usually showcase historically significant events or folklore of the region, Hindu mythology among others. However, some organisations come with tableaux which do not have any message to the society. They simply participate in the procession just to have fun. It can be recalled that Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi’s hate politics was showcased in a tableau. Though it attracted all, there was no message to the society. Such tableaux are banned this year.
Those organisations who intend to participate along with their tableaux should present the theme of their tableaux before the committee. If the committee is not satisfied with the theme, the person concerned in the association needs to revise the theme of their tableau. They can run their tableau in the procession only if it is approved by the temple management committee.
Padmaraj, treasurer of the temple management committee, when contacted, told Newskarnataka that their idea was not to restrict the tableaux to any number. “Dasara tableaux should not hurt the religious sentiments of others. The theme of the tableaux should not encourage violence on humans, animals or any creatures. It should promote our culture, tradition and also religious sentiments. Our intention is to give priority to the quality and not quantity”, he says.
If there is more number of tableaux, the procession takes around 16 hours to complete. Hence, there is a wide demand to cut short the duration of the procession. Though there was plan to end the procession before 6 AM, it has not been possible to perform the immersion rituals on time over the years. Hence, this time the temple management committee has asked the organisations to come with a valid tableau, having a good theme.
‘Maintain time’
The delay in the beginning of the procession is also one of the reasons for the late completion. Hence, the temple management committee has asked participants to maintain time with those who bring tableaux to the procession. Tableaux should be getting ready at the starting point of the procession at around 4 PM and the procession will start sharp at 6 PM. During the previous occasions, one vehicle was allowed to ply behind the tableaux, which ferries food to the artistes who perform on them. But, this year, no such vehicles will be allowed behind tableaux. If the artistes need food, necessary arrangements will be made by the temple management committee itself, sources informed.
