Land
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Area         : 191,791 Sq km
Capital      : Bangalore
Districts    : 30
Languagea: Kannada
Population: 44,977,201
Male        : 22,861,409
Females   : 22,115,792
Literacy   : 55.98%

Karnataka is the eighth largest state in India in both area and population. It was formerly  known as Mysore. On November 1,1973, the name Mysore was changed to Karnataka.

Karnataka lies between 74o and 78o East longitudes and 11o and 18o North latitudes. It is situated on the western edge of the Deccan plateau and is surrounded by Maharashtra and Goa on the north, Andhra Pradesh on the east, and Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the south. On the west, it opens out on the Arabian Sea.

Geographically, Karnataka occupies three natural regions like the Coastal strip, the Sahyadris and the Deccan plateau. They are known in Kannada as Paschima Karavali,  Malnad and Maidan respectively.

ARTS

Religious Dances

Most folk dances owe their existence to religion and are performed during fairs, festivals and other religious occasions celebrated by a local communities.

The dances like 'Nandi Dhwaja', 'Lingada-Berana', Gorava dance, Veeragase, Beesu Kamsale and Puravanthike are dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva.

Bhagawanthike, Pata Kunitha and Bana Devara Kunitha are dances performed to worship Lord Vishnu.

Mariammana Kunitha, Urimarammana Kunitha, Puja, Karaga, Dollu, Soman Kunitha, Harige, Sedere, Bhoota Nrutya, Naga Nrutya, Vatte Kola, Kombat and Billat are being performed to worship all incarnations of 'Shakti', the deity of power.

The dance performance in Nandi Dhwaja consist of an attractively decorated bamboo pole measuring about 20 to 25 feet long and 4 inch wide in circumference. Nandi Dhwaja is performed by skilled and experienced dancers. The performance begins with the erection of the Nandi pole which is initially thrust into a 'Navara'-the pouch worn by the performer. Balancing the pole at 90o , the dancer accomplishes rhythmic movements and intricate acrobats to the emotional tunes of the musical accompaniments. This dance is prevalent in all parts of the state except Kodagu.

The artistes of Beesu Kamsale are an expert singing community. But vigorous, rhythmic movements dominate the performance of Beesu Kamsale. Narration is regulated to the background. 

In Pata Kunitha, the major emphasis is more on the manipulation of pata (embellished bamboo pole, each measuring 10 to 15 feet high, carried by 10 to 15 artistes) than the narration. The dances Beesu Kamsale and Pata are widely popular in Mysore region.

In Bana Devara Kunitha, the folk artistes will be preoccupied with attaining perfect harmony to the clinking of bow bells rather than on oral communication of any religious content. The striking feature of this dance is archery. This form of dance is found in places like Hassan, Chitradurga and Chikkamagulur.

In Puja Kunitha dance, the emphasis is more on the visual presentation than the oral narration. Here the spectacular exhibition of colourful bamboo structure is ably matched by the skilful body movements. It is prevalent in Bangalore and Mandya districts.

Karaga is known for its rigidity with high ritualistic significance. It is popular in Mysore and Bangalore districts.

In Sedere dance, the performance in an emotion charged atmosphere. Any communication through music gets drowned in the din of the thunderous sound of musical instruments amidst fast paced virile performance. Sedere is performed by scheduled castes and washer men in some parts of Bangalore and Hassan districts.

In Gorava mela which is extensively practiced in Mysore, Shimoga, Belgaum and Dharwad districts, the artistes display immense abilities of oral communication and perception. Goravas are singing tribe who narrates stories of deeper religious value.

MUSIC

Music is a universal art apt to transcend national boundaries. Karnataka can be proud of its contribution to Indian music. Gopala Nayaka traveled all the way from the south to become the court musician of Allauddin Khilji (1295-1315) in the north. He cultivated the friendship of the Persian musicologist, Amir Khusrau. Their discussion led to the development of new Ragas. These were incorporated in the treatise on music by a South Indian composer of the 16th century-Pundarika Vittala. The intermingling of the two cultures gave rise to the two modes of singing-Uttaradi and Dakshinadi or Hindustani and Karnatic.

Fold songs and Singers

The popular music of folk-songs, Yakshagana and open-air plays has a unique cultural value. Karnataka state has different folk musical traditions with a variety of themes, subtlety of thought and wide range of human interest. Each form is distinct from the other and rivals in creative aspect. They have a multiple variety of folk songs in northern and southern regions.

For the purpose of classification, two groups of folk singers of Karnataka have been identified on the basis of their vocational interests. They are (a) Professional singers (b) Ballad singers.

Professional singers are again classified into (a) Professional Religious singers (b) Professional secular singers.

FESTIVALS

Ugadi

Ugadi falls on the first day of the month of Chaitra which marks the beginning of the Chandramana New Year in March-April. This festival is not associated with many rituals. After an oil bath, people wear new clothes, worship their deities and then eat a little quantity of mixture of neem juice, jaggery etc. This is to remind everyone that life is not a bed of roses but is a combination of happy and sorrowful events. Hearing of a new almanac is a significant event of the day. The agriculturists generally start their pre-sowing operations in the field on this day.

Dussera

Dussera is celebrated for 10 days from September end to early October. Although it is celebrated all over India, it has special significance in Mysore, South India. It symbolizes the victory of goddess Chamundeswari (Durga) over the demon Mahishasura. i.e. the victory of the good over the evil. Mysore palace is fully illuminated for a whole month. On the last day, with the accompaniment of a band colourfully bedecked elephant carrying the statue of goddess starts from the palace as a procession with palace chariots and units of the army through the city to Banni Mantap (where Banni tree is worshipped), about five kilometres away. In the evening, there is a torchlight parade by the horse mounted guards who provide an exciting display of horsemanship and the night ends with a great display of fireworks.

Kar Hunnive

This is observed on the Full moon day of Jyestha (June) by worshipping the bullocks and the agricultural implements. A special feast is prepared in the afternoon. In the evening a function called Karihariyodu is performed, in which the chief event is bullocks race. Many pairs of bullocks participate in the running race and the pair which come first is acclaimed by the public. If the bullocks which comes first are red or brown colour, it is supposed that red variety of jowar will grow in abundance during the ensuing season and if they are white in colour, white jowar is supposed to grow in plenty.

Shravan Mondays

Every Monday in the month of Shravan is considered as a festival day in the village. People offer special worship at the temple of Shidlingappa. They carry the deity in a palanquin in a procession accompanied by music on all the Mondays in Shravana and offer special worship. Many of them observe partial fasting on these days. On the last Shravana Monday they arrange special festivities. They arrange bhajans near the Patrappa tree and feed about 100 people next day.

Nagarpanchami

Nagarpanchami falls on the 5th day of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravana. On this day, newly married girls visit their parents. Swings are put up in the village on which both adults and children indulge themselves without any inhabitation, irrespective of caste, creed or sex. The religious part of the festival consist of offering worship to cobras and snakes by pouring milk. In several houses, clay images of snakes are worshipped.

TOURISM