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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Mysureans uphold Dasara traditions even during uncertain times
Mysuru: Dasara, a festival with a rich history spanning 415 years, has seen various adaptations over time, especially during periods of uncertainty about continuing the tradition, when the govt abolished the Privy Purse in 1971. In the early 1970s, following the abolition of the privy purse in 1971, the then Maharaja of Mysuru, Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, decided not to ride on elephant back during the Dasara procession. It was then that the state govt formed a committee of writers and thinkers to decide on the celebration. For one year, the celebration wasn't held. Until 1971, the lead elephant carried the Maharaja of Mysuru along with his heir on elephant back, in the procession from Mysuru Palace to Banni Mantap grounds. The Golden Ambari (Howdah) has two seats, and since the beginning of the procession, both the Maharaja and the heir travelled on elephant back, as part of the celebration. The govt committee finalised to palce the idol of Chamundeshwari on the Howdah, and since then, it was rechristened as 'Naada Habba' (State festival), explained Rangaraju, a retired professor of ancient history and archaeology from the University of Mysore. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo by Taboola by Taboola Fast forward to 2020, the world faced a different kind of challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic. Dasara celebrations had to be significantly scaled down to adhere to health and safety protocols. The grand procession, a hallmark of the festival, was restricted to the confines of the Mysuru Palace premises. Even during the pandemic, the spirit of Dasara was kept alive by the locals. They took it upon themselves to illuminate the streets, ensuring that the festival's vibrancy and cultural significance were not lost. This highlighted the community's dedication to preserve their cultural heritage, even in the absence of formal processions. The streets, adorned with lights, became a testament to the people's resilience and commitment to their traditions. Despite the lack of govt support, people voluntarily lit up streets and shops on all the ten days of the festival, explained NS Rangaraj, historian and former member of Mysuru district heritage committee. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
As govt. gears up to revive Buddhist history in Rajaghatta near Bengaluru, villagers stand divided
'During the first excavation, if we found one brick which we felt was historically significant, we gave it to the researchers. We used to get 10 paise for it,' a farmer working in a field in Rajaghatta, a village in Doddaballapur taluk, in Bengaluru Rural district, recalled. Rajaghatta, which was an ancient settlement of Buddhists probably around the fourth and fifth centuries, is getting ready once again for excavation. On July 16, Tourism Minister H.K. Patil, along with the officials of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, inaugurated the excavation programme to find more relics and artefacts from the ancient period. Boodi gundi Before it caught the eye of some local researchers as well as M.S. Krishnamurthy, formal principal of University of Mysore, a certain area of Rajaghatta has heaps of ashes, earning it the name of 'Boodi Gundi' (pit of ashes) from the locals. However, between 2001 and 2004, led by Mr. Krishnamurthy, excavators discovered that Rajaghatta was one of South Karnataka's prominent centres of Buddhism during the fourth and fifth centuries. Mr. Krishnamurthy said that the foundation of a Buddhist Chaityalaya, formed entirely of bricks, rooms of a Vihaara, a small medallion with an engraving of Buddha, several clay tablets, stupas and much more were found during the initial excavation. Many artifacts that were discovered here are now being kept in the museum of the University of Mysore. Upon the requests of Maha Bodhi Society (MBS), Buddhist Charitable Organization, the State government has once again taken up the excavation with Mr. Krishnamurthy at the helm again. Work is expected to begin post-monsoon. 'While we formally inaugurated the excavation, we will carry it out once monsoon is over as rains slow down the process. The preparation has already begun in a couple of sites and as there were good findings earlier, we want to see what else comes up this time,' Mr. Patil told The Hindu. Villagers divided Krishnappa, who currently owns the land under which the remnants of the Chaityalaya was found, has agreed to give it for excavation. But not all villagers are onboard as the areas where the ancient structures were found are now agricultural lands. Rajaghatta Ravi, a resident of the village who is also working with historians, says, 'Many villagers are not aware of the history. Many of them found artifacts over the years in their fields and just kept it under wraps as they did not want to give up lands. Some of us believe that when there is such a rich history, dating back almost 2,000 years, we should not let it go. That is why we are pulling all stops to ensure Rajaghatta gets is due.' A little behind Krishnappa's land is another agricultural field where an engraved stone, which is supposed to be from a later period of history (probably of Ganga period) is situated. Parijatha, whose family owns the land, says that there is no way they will give up their land for excavation. She said, 'When they cleared the ashes the first time, they checked this stone and said that this is not from the Buddhist settlement period.' Further down is another field filled with cabbage plants where two samadhis (final resting place) of some Buddhist monks are situated. Future plans Once the excavation process is completed, the plan is to make Rajaghatta a tourist site and exhibit its ancient Buddhist history to the public. 'We would like to convince the villagers to make way for excavation in these lands. If they do not agree, then acquisition is inevitable and we would either have to give them land parcels elsewhere or monetary compensation,' Mr. Patil said. 'Rajaghatta is so close to Bengaluru and even to the Bengaluru International Airport. We want the public to know how this was a prominent Buddhist centre once,' said Gopalakrishna, a member of the MBS. 'We want to bring the artifcats that are being kept in University of Mysore here once the excavation is completed and showcase it all together.' Meanwhile, to encourage more villagers to come forth with information, the police have started the Mane Manege Police (door-to-door police service) initiative in Rajaghatta. 'While people might not usually know how to report their findings or even about possible encroachment in some of these historic sites, we hope that this programme will bring them the confidence to tell us,' said Sadiq Pasha, police inspector, Doddaballapur Rural Police Station.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
UoM reduces participation in inter university sports due to fund shortage
Mysuru: The University of Mysore is set to drastically scale down its participation in inter-university sports competitions this academic year, citing a severe funding shortage. While the university competed in over 30 events last year, it is expected to take part in only 10 to 15 events this time—less than half of its previous participation. Despite collecting nearly Rs 2 crore annually through the sports development fee, the university allocates a comparatively meagre amount to support its athletes. Last year, Rs 60 lakh was earmarked for sports, but in the most recent meeting of the syndicate, the amount was slashed further to just Rs 40 lakh. The decision is a major setback for hundreds of student-athletes who rely on such platforms to hone their skills and gain national-level exposure. Many of them now face the prospect of missing out entirely, particularly those who didn't win medals last year but have shown significant improvement this season. Apart from collecting Rs 2 crore annually from students for sports development fee, the university also gets Rs 15 lakh annually as part of an agreement for Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar ground from KSCA. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo According to university sources, only medal-winning teams from the previous year are likely to be sent to inter-university events this time — a move that many in the sporting community deem unfair. "This policy penalises students who have worked hard over the past year to improve," said one official on condition of anonymity. The department of physical education has expressed concern over financial constraints and emphasised the urgent need for additional resources. Without adequate funding, they warn that the future of campus sports could be in serious jeopardy. Speaking to TOI, university registrar MK Savitha acknowledged the issue. "We have a meeting scheduled this week where the matter will be discussed in detail. We will try our best to support as many sports as possible. If there is a genuine need for additional funds, we will reconsider the budget," she said. The situation has sparked calls from students, alumni, and sports enthusiasts urging the university to prioritise sports funding and ensure equitable opportunities for all aspiring athletes.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Doctoral candidate at UoM pioneers research on repatriation of tribal heritage
Mysuru: A doctoral candidate at the department of Studies in Anthropology at the University of Mysore (UoM) is currently working on her PhD thesis on repatriation of tribal heritage — the first such doctoral research topic in India. The research, conducted by Banita Behera, an officer of the Anthropological Survey of India (ASI), under the mentorship of M R Gangadhar, professor and the current vice-chancellor of Chamarajanagar University, delves into the complex issue of repatriation of tribal cultural artefacts from museums back to their source communities – a hitherto underexplored area in Indian academic context. Titled 'Repatriation of Tribal Heritage: A Threat to Anthropological Collections: A Future Solution to the Cultural Policies', the thesis examines the cultural, legal, ethical, and policy dimensions of returning tribal artefacts to indigenous communities. It provides a roadmap for how India can balance heritage protection with cultural justice towards its tribal populations. Behera's research advocates revising India's antiquity laws, urging museums to serve as both guardians and partners in cultural preservation. Despite the global prominence of the repatriation debate, it has received little attention in India, given the country's rich tribal heritage and vast museum collections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Resmed AirSense 11 with flat 20% off ResMed Buy Now Undo Behera's study critiques the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, for its failure to address tribal rights and community ownership of anthropological collections in museums. It proposes inclusive cultural policies, strengthened museum-community collaborations, and legal frameworks to support respectful repatriation. By offering sustainable and equitable repatriation models, the research paves the way for cultural reconciliation, ensuring tribal heritage is not only exhibited but honoured, revitalised, and returned to where it rightfully belongs. This study is the first in India to comprehensively tackle the critical global issue of tribal artefact repatriation at the doctoral level, positioning the University of Mysore as a leader in heritage policy and anthropological research in South Asia, according to professor Gangadhar. "This thesis is a cultural blueprint for the future," he said, adding: "It underscores the need for policy formation for anthropological museums to redefine them as active collaborators in preserving culture." He further said museum anthropology is largely unexplored in India, making this research truly distinctive. Behera, originally from Odisha, began her PhD in 2020. With 15 years of experience as a museum anthropologist, she currently leads the Southern Zonal Anthropological Museum, Anthropological Survey of India, in Mysuru. Behera plans to submit a proposal based on her research to the Ministry of Culture, which has expressed interest in it.
The Hindu
30-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Conference on yoga and youth health conducted
The Government Ayurvedic Research Centre, Mysuru, in association with Yuvaraja's College, University of Mysore, conducted a conference on Yuva Arogya Yoga Mahotsava -2025, here on Wednesday. N.K. Lokanath, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore, said in his presidential address that while the State has made commendable strides in education and health care accessibility, youth-specific health indicators and increase in life-style diseases were a cause for concern. Citing various studies, the Vice-Chancellor said there were worrying trends of obesity, type-2 diabetes and hypertension, and growing incidents of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders among the students. He flagged excessive screen time leading to digital fatigue, affecting both physical and cognitive well-being. Prof. Lokanath, substance abuse including tobacco and synthetic drugs were also prevalent but on the positive side there an increase in interest in yoga, fitness, and wellness programmes. This, he said, reflects a shift towards a more conscious and preventive health mindset. Underlining challenges to youth health, Prof. Lokanath listed poor dietary habits and inadequate physical activity, peer pressure and social media influencing unhealthy behaviours and self-image, limited access to youth-friendly health services in rural areas, fragmented approach that treat symptoms but ignore the causes etc., as having a bearing on the general health of the youth population. In this context, the Vice-Chancellor said yoga was India's timeless gift to the world and it held great promise. India's traditional wisdom like yoga, unani, siddha, etc., and modern medical understanding could be synthesised to provide integrated, sustainable and effective solutions, he added. Shekar Naik, Head, Department of Food Science, Yuvaraja's College and others were present.
