SFV Rajyotsava-2018 - Glitters again

Having missed both the earlier SFV Rajyotsava celebrations (out of station on both occasions), we considered ourselves fortunate to be present this time.

We were at the venue in advance to reserve our seats in the front row, which we did in the customary handbag and hanky method, as we got busy renewing acquaintances with fellow residents. 

However, when the function started we found ourselves relegated to the third row. Yes, the innovative kids brought chairs and fixed themselves in the open space in front. Most welcome. That in no way marred our view.

The organizers had a different game plan this time. Doing away with the beaten track of hosting it in one of the parking lots, or the designated amphitheatre, they chose the open lawns in Alder. With what result?  “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Yes, SFV functions, no matter where they are held, will never lose their sheen. It only added glory to the event.

It was great relief to see bright sunshine after a spell of gloomy weather, as a ripple effect of the recent Gaja cyclone in coastal Tamil Nadu.

The daylong programme started with breakfast offering a menu of half a dozen delicacies. We relished our pick - Masala Dosa and Puri-sagu and a steaming cup of coffee.

A row of 20-30 stalls was being readied along the road leading to Alder Gate. Their products ranged from laboratory services, time-sharing holidays, banks, sarees and dress materials, cosmetics, and the stall doing brisk business with digestive churans. As the day progressed one could see a stream of residents making a beeline to the stall area. “We had a fairly good business,” replied a stallholder at night as he was winding up.

At 4.20 pm, one heard the welcome foot-tapping drum beat to alert residents of the events to follow. In the next ten minutes, people had gathered in large numbers to accompany the pageant depicting Kannada culture, from Oak to the amphitheatre. Here the ladies attired in their best danced merrily, and menfolk joined the fun with some initial hesitation. This was followed by complimentary coffee and snacks before everyone headed to the venue.

Navin Kashyap, SFV’s all-rounder, compered the programme; needless to say, with his customary clarity and sincerity. The programme was filled with songs, dances, or skits, all of them carrying a touch of class – be it the young children’s dance, the songs of the adolescents, or the group dance by homemakers.

Some events, nonetheless, unwittingly linger in memory for a little longer. In my case these include the outstanding performance of the ‘evil’ in the good versus evil dance-drama by young girls. Also the film songs rendered by the professional singer – Oak resident. Scintillating.

The other is the scene where the Odeyars known to be descendants of the Vijayanagara clan coming to Maaballa-theertha now known as Chamundi Hills to relieve the surviving widowed queen and her daughter from the atrocities of the wicked commander – Maaranaayaka.

Also the one where the 5th descendant Odeyars fell prey to the unsound advice to acquire treasured jewels of Alamelamma, the surving queen of Timmarasu, a descendant of the Vijayanagar family, whom he had killed in war. Unable to withstand the persistent pressure from the king, Alamelamma jumped into an overflowing Cauvery at Talakadu along with her jewels, but not before cursing the Odeyar Dynasty. “May Talakadu the confluence and fertile province turn to be a desert and Maalangi be a whirlpool – May the Mysore Odeyars fail to beget heirs…”

The function over, it was time for dinner. We learn the organizers had sold nearly 700 coupons. Understandably fear engulfed that pandemonium might prevail for dinner. No, never. It was quite orderly. One had the taste of Malnad cuisine. Kudos organizers also for hosting free dinner to 200 SFV support staff. 


As Aunty and I headed home, she said, “I think we should have invited your sister in JP Nagar, and mine in Whitefield who too live in massive apartment complexes as ours, to see what it is to be living in SFV”. I couldn’t agree with her more.