My first "halli jatre" experience...

My first ever experience of sorts, I visited a typical “halli jaatre” (village fair) over the weekend. Thanks to Paa, we received an invitation to participate in the KaViKa rathotsava (chariot procession) on the auspicious of Ramanavami celebrations at the Ghali Anjaneya Swamy temple in Mysore road.

Despite living in close proximity to the place and for over 20 years now, I had no idea this annual festivity would be so grand. I knew there was a rathotsava but never knew there would be over 12-13 chariots carrying the many utsava murthis (idols meant for procession) and it would be a grandiose affair with dwellers from just about everywhere reveling in the celebrations till early dawn. There are many temples in the vicinity. Each of those temple deities had a chariot and the entire sight was worth a dekko!

The complete stretch of Mysore road was brilliantly lighted, with vehicles barred right from the Mysore road - Chord road junction and the police ever vigilant; we reached the KaViKa factory (Karnataka Vidyut Karkhane) at about 10.00pm on Saturday night (4th of April, 2009) for the chariot procession that would begin by 10.30pm. The crowd had me spellbound; it did not look like it was near midnight. The rural ambience was stunning and totally unexpected. A local orchestra was pelting out the latest hits and the loud applause and encores showed how the people were enjoying themselves. Umpteen hawkers were on the streets selling sweets, toys, clothes and just about everything. There even were computerized astrology predicting robots. The women and children seemed to have a blast while the men took pride in purchasing stuff for their families and protectively guiding them through the rush. We made our way through the din on foot to reach the KaViKa factory premises.

As soon as the chariot decorations were done with, my folks and I went with KaViKa chairman Mr.Kulkarni to the venue. The chariot was huge, at least 20 feet high and an equally massive girth. It was a hoovina pallakki (chariot of flowers, jasmine in particular) unlike the 12 others which were all mutthina pallakis (chariots of beads). The aroma of fresh jasmine mixed with the tinge of incense sticks lingered in the air and the richly decorated idols of Ram, Lakshman, Seetha and Hanuman were becoming. It was a treat worth looking at. The crowd went ballistic when the pundits did the aarti and the procession began with shouts of “Ramchandraji ki jai, Seeta ji ki jai, Vaayu suta Hanuman ki jai..”

My folks and I too, were a part of the group of people who pulled the chariot ahead for the initial few feet. While a gang of guys kept breaking coconuts all through the way shouting the Lord’s name, another gang kept brushing the broken pieces aside to keep the group pulling the chariot from hurting our feet. Another gang burst crackers, everyone reveled and participated in their own way.

As usual, there was a power cut in the middle of the celebrations but the dazzling deepas (oil lamps or diyas) and the glare of bursting crackers made the jewel studded idols look splendid. That, coupled with the devotion of the hundreds of people gathered to witness the procession, the nonstop chanting of mantras, the loud shouts of the Lord’s name, the way people participated, reminded me of the Ramayana sequence of “ALilu seve” (squirrel service).

In the midst of all this, I realized with a shock that I had tears running down my eyes. I could visualize my music teacher Sharadha ma’am explaining Tyagaraja’s love and devotion for Rama while telling the meaning of each composition she taught. It made so much sense. My mum apparently echoed my sentiments and said its no wonder Rama is called “Chakravarti tanuja” (emperor’s son), he deserved all the glitter, grandeur and more.

Suddenly everything else became insignificant!! For someone who hates crowds of any sort, I no longer minded the brash rural crowd gathered there. I did not wince at the way people pushed and pulled at each other, for a closer glance of the Lord. I did not feel anything except that idyllic bliss at the bottom of my mind. I was swayed off my feet at the devotion of the common man there and the words about everyone being the same in His presence seemed so true. We are all so insignificant in front of Him.

As the procession entered the main road, we stood aside watching the procession, the fire works and the people for a while. Later we were escorted by a KaViKa official to the Ghali Anjaneya Swamy temple for darshan. Lord Hanuman there seemed almost alive that night, grandly adorned by a myriad of choicest colored flowers and jewels. We offered our prayers and left.

As I retired to bed later that night, my head was full of the events of the previous hour and complete mish mash of so many emotions. A truly gratifying experience!!