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The Ruins Live Yet
Another Life - Hampi Utsav
2008
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In
the midst of rocks and ruins Hampi looks
splendid all the time of the year. But to
see the overwhelming splendour of the
city and its richness, one should attend
the Hampi Utsav (festival) in their
lifetime. The festival is known by
several names including Vijayanagara
Utsav, Vijayanagara Vaibhava, Hampi Utsav
or Vijaya Utsav. The event is aimed at
promoting tourism and also to increase
the awareness about Hampi.
This
year, the celebration would be from 3rd
to 5th of November. While the
administration has planned to celebrate
the festival on a grand scale, it is yet
to be seen how well the plans are
executed. There is a huge surge in
tourism with a several hundred thousands
of tourists flocking the place during
festival. All the hoteliers have been
given strict instructions to take
precautionary measures and prevent any
health hazards.
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The
festival was started in the year 1987 and
is in its 12th year. However, this is
just the recent past. It is believed that
the Kings of Vijayanagara Empire started
the public celebration of Dasara who used
to participate in the nine day festival
along with their subjects at Mahanavami
Dibba. There has been a wonderful
recording of the festival by the Italian
chronicler Nicolo De Conti
who visited the Vijayanagara Empire
around 1420/1421 A.D. during the reign of
Deva Raya
II. Conti never wrote anything
himself and his stories were recorded by
Poggio Bracciolini. In one such
recordings, he talks of three festivals
"the third, which lasts nine days, they
set up in all the highways large beams,
like the masts of small ships, to the
upper part of which are attached pieces
of very beautiful cloth of various kinds,
interwoven with gold. On the summit of
each of these beams is each day placed a
man of pious aspect, dedicated to
religion, capable of enduring all things
with equanimity, who is to pray for the
favour of God".
After
the fall of Vijayanagara Empire, the
Wodeyar Kings continued the celebrations
on a much larger scale in Mysore annually
but Hampi had lost it for a few years.
The Government of Karnataka started it
again but for a period of 3 days only and
also not during the Dasara festival
itself but a few days after Dasara.
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Special events including sports, dance
and music concerts by prominent musicians
of India are held at various monumental
sites in Hampi. This year, there are
plans of putting up five stages in
different sections of the ancient city
with one of them reserved exclusively for
women. These stages are generally named
after the prominent personalities and
philanthropists of the region. The
festival also promotes local culture by
providing a chance to local artists to
perform during the fest.
The
festival includes Dance, Drama, Music,
fireworks, puppet shows, spectacular
processions, etc. Artists from various
fields and from every corner of India
gather here to enjoy the beautiful
splendour of the festival. All the events
are held in open spaces, so the people
enjoy the open air environment of the
celebrations. The calm and quiet Hampi
city enjoys the vibrant and soothing
classical music and enjoys the presence
of artists during these days.
Noted film actor Hema Malini would be among
the star performers at the utsav. The
high-powered committee for organising the Hampi
Utsav under the Chairmanship of Tourism Minister
Sri Janardhana Reddy is orgainising the mega
cultural festival on a grand scale and to hold
the celebrations in a befitting manner. Some of
the big names from the world of entertainment
will perform at this year’s Hampi Utsav. Asha
Bhonsle, Kishori Amonkar, Sonu Nigam, Gazal
singer Pankaj Udhas, actor Vasundhara Das and
legendary Ilayaraja will be the star performers.
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For the complete time table of the events
and latest updates, please click here.
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