October
17 is doubly auspicious this year. The commencement of Dasara or 'Sharannavaratri'
and the 'Theerthodbhava' at Tala Cauvery, the source of the holy river
Cauvery, coincide the same day. The ten-day Dasara festivities commencing
on October 17 concludes on October 26 with the 'Vijaya Dasami' celebration.
Though the religious part will be celebrated as usual with special worship
of Durga in houses and temples in Mysore and elsewhere, the Karnataka
Government has decided to make the celebrations on its part a lack-luster
one on account of paucity of rains in several parts of the State.
On the other hand,
elaborate arrangements are being made by the Kodagu (Coorg) district
administration for the 'Theerthodbhava' on October 17, the 'Tula Sankramana'
day. Arrangements include deploying of police men for manning the huge
crowds during the three-day 'Jathra' or the fair, sanitation and hygiene,
drinking water, electricity, medical facility, improvement of roads,
and ban on sale of liquor in the area. Tala Cauvery, the birthplace
of the sacred river, is situated on the slopes of Brahmagiri Hills in
Western Ghat range of Kodagu district. Brahmagiri hills has some old
temples and holy water ponds. Located amidst forest, coffee-orange plantations
and the 4187-foot Brahmagiri Hills, offering nature's splendour and
beauty to the pilgrim, Tala Cauvery turns auspicious for hundreds of
people coming from both Kodagu and neighbouring districts on the auspicious
Tula Sankramana day to witness the emerging of holy water from thr 'Kundike',
the sacred pond.
At the appointed hour, the sacred river rises from a small pond and
flows down the slopes. Hundreds of pilgrims jump into the big tank in
front of the small pond and take a holy dip. Tala Cauvery is 39 kilometers
from Madikeri, the headquarters of the district. This year, the proests
have calculated the hour for the emerging of Cauvery on October 17 at
6.58 p.m. Special arrangements are being made for the convenience of
the large number of pilgrims at this place. Dasara is also celebrated
in Madikeri with a procession of beautiful temple cars.
