With just three days left for the Dasara festivities to conclude, any celebration that is held in the city, is usually in the shadow of the world famous Mysore Dasara festival and the procession on the Vijayadashami day. With most people flocking to Mysore, Mangalore and their hometowns, festivities are either being held at homes in a localised manner depending on the state to which they belong.
Over the years, Bangalore has changed a lot and the Dasara festival too is celebrated with a distinctive regional flavour, be it from Gujarat, Bengal, Rajasthan, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. With each community celebrating in its traditional way, the citizens too partake in this festivities which is so diverse from the local culture. If it is Durga Puja, people flock to the pandals set up by the local Bengali associations in Malleswaram, Banaswadi and other areas while, if it is the Navaratra of the Gujaratis, the locals love taking part in the Garba and Dandiya that is held at the Bangalore Palace grounds as well as various residential areas. Joint celebrations are very popular in gated communities and huge apartment complexes be it in Domlur, JP Nagar or Marathahalli.
However, in some areas of Bangalore, one can still see Dasara festivities in the old areas like Chickpet, Cubbonpet, Munnireddy Palya when people throng the pandals and enjoy the nine-day festival.
The famous JC Nagar Dasara is nothing but a nada habba with people from all communities taking part which culminates with a grand procession on the Vijayadashmi day.
According to the organisers, this time, the festivities are on a large scale with more than 80 chariots taking part in the procession.
Any festival brings with it special menus and lip smacking sweets and savories. And Dasara in Bangalore means getting a chance to taste the unique flavours from different states and communities. We bring you some flavours from Bengal and the north.
Blessed be the bhog
There is no disputing a Bengali's love for food. Durga Puja is no time to make an exception for it.
That food stalls at the various community puja pandals make brisk business and have people thronging for the varied delights of Bengali cuisine, shockingly so to others since it includes non-vegetarian fare, is well documented. What fewer know is the draw of the pujo-er bhog.
Partaking in what has been served as a meal to the goddess during her stay in her maiden home - it is believed that Durga is visiting her baaper badi (father's home) with her four children Lakshmi. Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh - is the highlight of Durga Puja.