Kota Dussehra Mela

Dussehra is celebrated all over the country but in Kota the festival is quite unique for it marks the beginning of an extensive festive period.

Kota is the hub of Hadoti in Rajasthan. It is famous for its doriya sarees, stones, spicy namkeens and as an education centre. Different places have evolved their own distinctive way of celebrating Dussehra. The Dussehra of Mysore is well known but Dussehra mela in Kota is a grand extravaganza. The celebrations here have made a special mark in the past many years. The art and craft fairs and exhibitions are a perennial feature of this town but the annual Dussehra festival holds an unusual lure for everyone.

Rich in courtly splendour and age-old traditions, the festivities here are marked by a rural flavour. The mela attracts thousands of village folk from the surrounding villages. It also attracts many tourists. The fair is jointly organised by the Nagar Nigam and the Department of Tourism and lasts for about a fortnight.

The deliberations are marked by a glittering procession, which attracts the common and the elite alike. The colourful shobha yatra to the Dussehra mela ground starts from the Royal Palace. It features decorated elephants, camels, horses, folk dancers and the like.

The presence of numerous villagers, who throng the venue in their traditional attires to participate in the cattle fair, holds a special charm for the tourists besides attraction of the festivities. The display of their rural jewellery and dresses can drive the foreigners in to ecstasy as they click the special moments and enjoy a memorable sojourn. The traditional sports, the cattle fair, thematic handicraft shops and elaborate decorations at pavilions —the entire atmosphere is quite colourful.

But the most unique feature of this mela is the tall effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarana and Meghnad. At more than 72 feet they are one the tallest in of the region. The effigy of Ravana is animated and it constantly brandishes its sword, turns its head and flickers the eyelashes much to the cheer of the crowd. The shorgars of the region are quite expert craftsmen. Master artisan Sattar Bhai of Fatehpur Sikri, who has been crafting the effigies for the past many years, says “Every year we try to give attractive and new inputs to Ravana and his clan.”

These effigies are filled with a variety of crackers. A young child dressed as Lord Rama shoots an arrow of fire at Ravana on Dashmi or the Dussehra day.

The Ramlila and Ram katha take place during the Navaratras. The Dussehra day also features a series of events, including the Lakshmi Narayan tableau from the Garh palace followed by a colourful shobha yatra from Kaithuni Pol, Bharat Milap and Ram Abhishek at the Shri Ram rangmanch. The specially decorated Ram rangmanch and Vijayshri rangmanch are a treat to watch.

Prominent artists from all over the country are invited to participate in various cultural programmes. The events include kavi sammelans, Sindhi cultural programme, bhajan sandhya, Rajasthani poets meet, cultural show by schoolchildren, Rajasthani folk music and dance programme (sponsored by the Department of Tourism), all-India mushaira, Punjabi programme, qawwali night, etc.

The events at the mela reach their climax on the Divali eve. The musical extravaganza culminates with a dazzling fireworks show and laser show.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081005/spectrum/main3.htm