It’s Dasara vs Dasara in Mysuru as BJP fights Dalit plan of counter celebration
Describing the move to celebrate Mahisha Dasara as an attempt to “transform devil into deity”, BJP MLA Pratap Simha has called for a Chamundi Betta Chalo event
With just a week left for the start of the hugely popular Mysuru Dasara, Dalits groups are planning to restart Mahisha Dasara, igniting the ire of the BJP, which has vowed to stop it. Still stung by its electoral rout in May, a senior leader of the Bhatatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made it clear that the October 13 Mahisha Dasara will be opposed, come what may.
Dalit organisers of the Mahisha Dasara say it is wrong to view Mahishasura, an ancient king of this region, as a demon, who was slain by Chamundeshwari. The confrontation has now reached the Mysuru District Court, which will hear the case on Wednesday (October 11). Interestingly, in a bid to foil Mahisha Dasara, Lok Sabha MP Pratap Simha (BJP) has called for a Chamundi Betta Chalo event on the same day — October 13.
The Mysuru administration has not given permission for either the Mahisha Dasara or Chamundi Betta Chalo. But both groups are determined to go ahead.
Although some Dalits say Mahisha Dasara should not be considered a counter to Mysuru Dasara (in pic), others claim it indeed is a counter-narrative to the latter
Dasara vs Dasara?
Though some Dalits say Mahisha Dasara should not be considered a counter to Mysuru Dasara, others claim it indeed is a counter-narrative to the latter. Krishnamurthy Chamaram, one of the organizers of Mahisha Dasara, told The Federal: “The event is not to hurt sentiments of any section but a symbolic show of self-esteem of the indigenous community.”
He said Mahisha Dasara would be organized by the Dalit Welfare Trust and University of Mysuru Research Students Federation.
Describing the move to celebrate Mahisha Dasara as an attempt to “transform devil into deity,” Simha said some 5,000 citizens of Mysuru will organize the Chamundi Betta Chalo. Simha has declared that the BJP will not allow Dalits to organize Mahisha Dasara.
He said the practice of celebrating Mahisha Dasara was stopped by BJP when it came to power, but it resumed after the Congress's return to power in the state.
BJP aggression
A poster released by BJP in Mysuru protesting Mahisha Dasara
Simha said he was ready for any confrontation to stop Mahisha Dasara.
According to BJP leader TS Srivatsa, people of Mysuru will assemble in the foothills of the Chamundeswari Betta and march towards Chamundi Hills to oppose Mahisha Dasara.
Former Mysuru Mayor Purushotham, chief organizer of the event, clarified that Mahisha Dasara was in no way opposed to Mysuru Dasara. He accused the BJP of unnecessarily politicizing the event.
He said the intention behind organizing Mahisha Dasara is to communicate the real truth of the history, which he said has been rewritten from an upper-caste perspective.
Purushotham said a bike rally will set out on October 13 from Ambedkar Park in Mysuru to Chamundi Hills, where they will shower flower petals on the statue of Mahishasura — an iconic landmark of Mysuru.
Later, at the foothills, cultural programmes will be staged. A chariot featuring Mahishasura, Buddha, and Ashoka besides tableaux with portraits of Basavanna, Kuvempu, and Valmiki will be flagged off.
Indigenous vs Hindutva
Congress leader and the minister in charge of Mysuru district, HC Mahadevappa, has said the government will not oppose the Mahisha Dasara.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday stated that the Mysuru administration will take a final call on the proposed event. He clarified that the government was not organising Mahisha Dasara.
“The practice of celebrating Mahisha Dasara began in 1973. It was held on a smaller scale. Later, it was organized on a grand scale in 2015. The trouble started after the BJP came to power in 2019 in Karnataka, said Chamaram.
On September 10, the Mahisha Dasara Organising Committee organized a seminar on the historical perspective of Mahishasura.
Speakers stated that the history of Mahishasura has been suppressed and he had been projected as a demon although he is a god of the indigenous people.
Chamaram, also a writer and filmmaker, said history has been mixed with mythology and that it was time to question the established narratives by Brahminical forces.
Jnanaprakash Swamiji of Urilinga Peddi Mutt observed that Mahisha Dasara was intended to educate people about a deity of the indigenous people, not to hurt the feelings of others.
