Dusshera Festival September 4, 2009

Dusshera Festival at Dakshina Chitra. DakshinaChitra with its vivid and authentic architecture, folk performing arts, lifestyles and crafts comes alive once again with the traditional celebrations of Dusshera. Dusshera festival at DakshinaChitra is a celebration of Karnataka's tradition and culture. Somana kunita folk performers to perform on all the nine days. Display of golu in Sathanur house, Karnataka house with traditional welcome. Delicious Karnataka Cuisine in our restaurant Kanali Arusuvai Arasu. An array of crafts and textiles from Karnataka in our Craft shop. A popular folk performance of Karnataka, Somana kunita will be staged throughout the 9 days. Somana kunita or the 'Mask dance' is a celebratory form of spirit worship prevalent in south Karnataka region. It is performed mostly in village shrines dedicated to the Mother Goddess. The art is mostly practised by the Gangemata community. The dance is characterised by the dancers wearing elaborate masks painted in different colours. . The music is provided by the Doonu(percussion), Mouri(wind pipe) and the Sadde(a windpipe to keep the shruti). The Craftshop at DakshinaChitra will also present a special feature on Karnataka with an exquisite range of sarees, exclusive collection of golu dolls for Dusshera. Lambani women are to be present at DakshinaChitra during Dusshera celebrations to exhibit their crafts. The heritage houses at DakshinaChitra will showcase Golu or doll arrangements in keeping with the Tamil Nadu tradition of Navaratri celebrations. Some of the dolls displayed will be more than a century old and can be seen during this festival only.