Did you know that Dasara is a 600 year old living tradition?  It was first started by the Vijayanagara Kings in Hampi and later carried forward by the Kings of Mysore and this year is the 400th year of Mysore Dasara

From the 7^th to 17^th of October 2010 you will find the entire city in a festive mood. The Illuminated Palace with 97,000 bulbs would be the centre of the entire celebration.

Here are five new things that you could venture out this Dasara !!

Mysore Style Yoga: You find Mysore Style Yoga studios in New York, London, Paris or Milan. Ever wondered how did it spread to the west ? Here is your chance to experience Mysore Style Yoga and understand its positive effects on the body. In Mysore you can get to know the story of how this style started and why this city considered holy for Yogis which attracts close to 500 foreign nationals every month for Yoga practice. You have quite a few Yoga Shalas  to try out in Lakshmipuram and Gokulam

97,000 bulbs up there

Night Walks : Its time of the year when the entire city is decked up like a bride and the illumination makes it special. A Night Walking Tour where you get a feel this city,learn the Significance of Dasara, understand Mysore’s relevance in World History, Get to see one of India’s Oldest Secret Societies, Get to have Mysore Pak from the family that invented it and much more. Mysore was recently voted the second cleanest city in India. So its enjoyable Walking. Organised by Royal Mysore Walks Call # 96320 44188

Tradition Food: Mysore’s delicacies find their place in every Indian restaurant around the world. From the sweet named after the city,Mysore Pak to a Mysore Masala Dosa there is an entire gamut to choose from. When in Mysore try the local fare, From the delicious Masala Dosas in Mylari and GTR to tender meat at Mugal Durbar.

200 yr old Garadi Mane, A traditional Wrestling house !

Garadi Mane,Traditional Wrestling House: This city has always been famous for its traditional wrestling, also known as Kushti. You can visit century old Wrestling houses to watch the men in loin cloths practice before they work on pinning down their opponents to the ground, Even the King back then was known for his wrestling skills, Do you want to try your luck? Then Mandi Mohalla is your best pick.

10,000 dolls on display

Gombe Mane,House of Dolls: It is a practice in Mysore for the girls of the house to make dolls  during the time of Dasara and work on bringing out a magnificent display their collection A lot of families even today follow this practice. You can get a peek in to the colorful tradition and if you wish you can also buy the dolls from a collection of 10,000 dolls at Bombe Mane at the Ramsons Kala Parishad Call 0821 2443669

Lots in store !! So see you in Mysore this Dasara :)

The Mysore Silk story has always fascinated me.  This factory was started in 1912, almost a 100 yrs back by the Maharaja of Mysore to provide Silk Sarees just for the women of the Mysore Palace. These days husbands have a problem taking their better halves out shopping and back then you had a king starting an entire factory to fulfill their need  chivalry at its best i would say !! Mysore Silk Saree is the only 100% pure silk saree in the whole world and they use pure gold and silver for the zari (the border). Did you know that women sometimes get old Mysore Silk sarees melted and get ornaments made from the precious metal that is obtained !! And any woman who has worn Mysore Silk will vouch for its super lightness unlike the other Silks.

The entire process, right from the silk yarn to the complete Saree  is done in their factory in Mysore and one can witness it. I have been taking a lot of my guests on this tour, and this time I was busy explaining my mom how the entire process is done, which is quite fascinating. But what really impresses me is that fact that just about 4 yrs back it was decided that this heritage industry should be shut down as it was a loss making one. Since then it has been restructured, the workers have gone from 3 shifts have to just one shift. The productivity has increased drastically and so has the quality. Now KSIC is a 400 Cr profit making industry !! People can just log on to their website and order the Saree of their choice and their are unable to meet the market demand. You talk to weavers there who so proudly showoff their handiwork and most of their kids are studying engineering across the street in the same college that the Infosys founder Mr Narayana Murthy went to !!

After the tour mom visibly impressed decided to buy not one but two Mysore Silk Sarees !! And I wasnt complaining Guys now that you know what to buy your mom, but then what are you gonna buy your girlfriend ??

After pulling a lot of strings and a bit of my patience we managed to enter the Private Durbar Hall of the Mysore Palace, Which in my personal opinion is the grandest and the most beautiful place in the Palace (of the little that i have seen). You had the cremonial Golden Throne out on display. It is really impressive with all the gold and studded with precious stones. With a line of priests sitting in row in front of the throne and also the Palace staff deressed up in ceremonial robes waiting for the Maharaja to Arrive. The entire ambience makes you feel thatyou are actually in the bygone Royal Era.

The Maharaja makes a grand entrance, The Palace staff guide him to the throne, A lot fanfare, Bugles being blown and respect shown (real or otherwise) in lot a ways. It feels like you are watch a 1960s movie on some royal dynasty ,

They go on to announce loudly something that you can never decipher expect for the words “SriKantaDatta Narasimha Raja Wodeyar Bahadur”, guess they were singing praising for the Maharaja. He accends the throne and salutes.For the next 20-30 mins there are a lot of Pujas that are performed and the loud annuncement keeps coming up regular intervals. After which the Maharaja decends the Thonre and is escorted away.

The best part of the evening was when we came out and happened to meet Mr Paramesh the  turban maker, He is from the family of turban makers who makes the famous Mysore Peta (Traditional Mysore head gear). You see him in the pic wearing the traditional robe and silver in his hands. Took down his contact , So you might end up seeing more insider details on the Mysore Peta on Royal Mysore Walks