Parashurama Theme Park: New Landmark

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 rocky hillock known as Umikallu at Bailur near Karkala, nondescript until recently, has emerged a centre of attraction among the locals and outsiders alike. Parashurama Theme Park developed atop the hillock is attracting hordes of visitors.

    Lord Parashurama is considered the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Besides, Parashurama holds much significance in this part of the land, as it was he who is believed to have created the land called “Tulunadu” by acquiring the land underwater the Arabian Sea. The theme park, located 12 km away from Karkala, has come up as an obeisance to Lord Parashurama.

          The 33-foot bronze statue with a valiant pose befitting the sage – an axe in a raised hand and a bow in another hand - draws the attention of the people from far. Once you climb the 450-ft hillock you have a breathtaking view of the rugged terrains and greenery around as well as the road connecting Karkala and Udupi.

     In addition, the complex has an audiovisual gallery.  Embossed canvases depicting the life of Parashurama, right from his parents Jamadagni and Renuka until he got the seawater receded post conquering the Kshatriyas are arrayed in the gallery.  It has also got the facilities of an open-air theatre for cultural programmes with a seating capacity of 500 and a meditation room.

     However, a restaurant, housed in the same complex, should have been at an annexe. MLA Sunil Kumar, the then Minister for Kannada and Culture, was instrumental in setting up the park spread at an area of about five acres.  

 

              - Sanoor Indira Acharya

 

Sri Kalakama Parashurama Temple, Mala

      Sri Kalakama Parashurama Temple is yet another landmark at Mala, a picturesque hamlet nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats. The original shrine, said to belong to the seventeenth century, has been renovated and developed by the devotees whenever there arose a need. 

 

     Lord Parashurama, here, is  worshipped by the Chitpavan Brahmin community which has made Mala its home upon migration from Maharashtra.  It may be noted that Chitpavan Brahmin community is settled in other parts of the undivided Dakshina Kannada district too. 

     The temple has a distinct construction style, unlike the worshipping centres of Tulunadu.  The colourful motifs on the ceiling and paints in vibrant hues lend it a Maharashtrian influence.  What makes the temple further unique is the absence of a separate teerthamantapa and dhwajasthambha, hallmarks of the temples in the coastal belt. 

 

     The steep incline in front of the temple is beautifully landscaped with a long flight of stairs and a small tank at the bottom.  The temple has a hall and a rangamantapa, providing a venue for the social gathering and also, perhaps, to showcase the talent of the culturally rich community. 

                          

      Lakshadeepotsava on the full moon day of the lunar month of Karthika marks the annual festival of the temple.  

     The divinity apart, the serene atmosphere around infuses a kind of tranquility among spiritual seekers and nature seekers alike.  A perfect spot to unwind.

 

Covid Crisis: Padutirupathi Cricketers bats for the needy

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hey do not just play cricket. They too are into philanthropic activities as their famous brethren elsewhere.  Meet Padutirupathi Cricketers, a group of young cricket enthusiasts of Gowda Saraswat Brahmin community.  This Karkala-based troupe, besides cricket, has extended a helping hand to the needy on many occasions.

     The lockdown in the wake of Covid – 19 is another occasion for the local GSB youngsters to serve the society.  They provide food to the medicos, paramedics, officials and workers whose service is essential to combat the ruthless spread of the novel Corona virus. Besides, patients in hospitals, their attendants, stranded homeless labourers and the poor too are on their food-supply radar.  Though the prevalence of Covid -19 cases is relatively low in Udupi district, no stone is left unturned in diagnosing and nipping the spread of the disease at the outset.

     The hardship of the personnel at a checkpost to get some food and water propelled a few members, mostly businessmen, in the group to rise to the occasion. They started providing food to them from the day 4 of the first phase of the lockdown. What started as a small gesture has, today, grown into an efficient network, supplying lunch packs to as many as 500 people in and around Karkala. The Police, government hospital, nursing homes, health workers, staff at various government offices, patients and quarantined people are the beneficiaries of their benevolence.   “Our purpose is to keep the people indoors and stay put at their locations, instead of coming out looking for food,” says Prakash Pai, a member.

     The vegetarian lunch comprises rice, sambar, palya, pickle and butter milk. Sometimes payasa and other delicious items are included upon request by the sponsors.  Padutirupathi Cricketers dispatches about 150-200 breakfast packets. The menu varies with items like Idli-chutney, Puliyogare, Buns and Upma-avalakki on different days. The team also provides dinner to the inmates at the quarantine facility.  In addition fruits are offered to patients sometimes.

     “Their service is a godsend to the staff, patients and those who accompany them. Our special requests for toddlers too have been promptly met without any delay,” opine in unison K V Padmavathi and Nayana Jayanth, staff nurses at the government hospital. “Even the people at the quarantine facility too are happy to have variety of good food,” adds Nayana.

     In all 30-40 members of Padutirupathi Cricketers involve themselves in the task.  They cook, pack and carry them to the respective locations in their own two-wheelers and four wheelers.  Govindaraya Pai, a member, has offered the premises of his home for the purpose. The volunteers abide by the lockdown guidelines by maintaining physical distance, wearing mask etc. at every step of this food supply chain.  The youth slog from seven in the morning until around 4 O’clock in the evening.

     “The daily expenses of the hygienic and healthy GSB food may come upto Rs 10,000,” says Vittaladas Shenoy, president of Padutirupathi Cricketers.  The labour of each member, of course, is not counted. Their valuable service is priceless.   Looking at the zealous and selfless service of the team, many have come forward with donations.  Offers come in the form of cash and kind. Now many other organizations too have joined hands. The burden now is shared, if not equally. True, no good work hits a road block owing to paucity of funds.

     Considering the clean kitchen as well as hygienic and healthy food, the administration too did not have a second thought in giving the go ahead.  Now it is mightily impressed with the committment of Padutirupathi Cricketers.  Tahsildar of Karkala Purandara Hegde profusely thanks the youngsters for their noble gesture in this hour crisis.  “Their generosity to provide food to all who are nowhere to turn to during the ongoing lockdown period is commendable,” says the Tahsildar.

     The troupe indeed has turned itself into a troop in the war against the Corona virus. 

   

Karkala Cake – The Wheat Halwa

 

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ike Mysore has its Pak, Dharwad its Peda, Tirunalveli its Halwa, Karkala too has a delicacy to its credit.  Karkala Cake!   Who doesn’t love cakes?  However, a Cake lover’s jaws will drop to find a sweet dark pudding look-alike for a cake without the customary baking. Soon the initial disappointment will give way to ecstasy once you sink your teeth into it, albeit reluctantly.  A die-hard cake fan too may find it irresistible!

     How this whole wheat flour halwa, came to be known as Karkala Cake, is still a mystery.  Some say the humble small hotels in Karkala, invented this easy to whip-up economical delicacy. It has succeeded in acquiring a mouth watering spot in menus at various functions, be it big or small. The humble delicacy can compete with any dessert if prepared properly.

     All you need to prepare Karkala Cake is equal amounts of wheat flour, ghee and sugar with some broken cashew nuts and raisins.

      Heat some ghee in a frying pan; add cashew nuts and then raisins. Once fried take them out and keep aside.  Add some more ghee to the same pan and heat it. Add a cup of whole wheat flour to it and fry. Keep stirring. The wheat flour starts emanating a nice aroma as the colour changes. Keep stirring for some more time. Add one and a half cup of hot water to the wheat flour on a slow flame. Care should be taken so as no lump is formed.  It turns into a sticky mass. Now add a cup of sugar and stir. Add some more ghee, if required. Stir until the mass starts leaving the surface of the pan. Add cardamom powder and garnish with cashew nuts and raisins.

Durga Falls – For a Monsoon Outing

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urga village is a hilly terrain, a little away from Karkala.  As you approach the little hamlet in the lap of the Western Ghats, the vegetation turns thicker.  The name Durga could have been originated from the word durgama in Sanskrit, connoting hard to venture into.  Yes, in those non-motor days, the village would have been a totally cut off remote dwelling.  Thanks to the development, is has not remained so now.

     Durga Waterfall, on the course of River Swarna that originates in the Western Ghat, is one of the magnets that attracts nature lovers and revelers alike to the village.  On its course downstream, Swarna flows through a vast rugged rock expanse, offering a visual delight in the monsoon and the ensuing few months.  Popularly known as Durga Falls, it in fact is not a waterfall, but the water surges on those rocks with force.  Nonetheless, the charm is no less.

     As the water makes its way through the obstructing rocks, it appears to dance with a snowy white hue.  The pleasant burble offers a perfect background.

     As the spot is parallel to the tarmac road, one can enjoy the beauty sitting in the vehicle also.  Situated five kilometers from the town, away from the hustle bustle, it is an ideal spot to unwind on a monsoon evening.  A few film makers too have found the locale charming enough to shoot a couple of scenes.

     On the bank, there is a small enclosed structure informing about the conduct of the post death rituals.

     However, the serene spot has already borne the brunt of the mindless picnicking. It is disappointing to see empty bottles, containers and packets of eatables and other trash strewn at some pockets. 

    

Mahalaxmi Shenoy - Music is her Mantra

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er parents are ardent aficionados of music.  Their passion and the musically charged environment at home kindled a spark for music in their little daughter since the age of three.  It was like imbibing music passively.  Today young Mahalaxmi Shenoy is a name to reckon with in the field of Hindustani classical music.  The prodigy from a small town Karkala is scaling new heights with the music that has its roots in the north.  She is literally going places.

     Her parents recognized her inclination early in her childhood and let her pursue her passion wholeheartedly.  Little Mahalaxmi began her musical journey by learning Carnatic genre. However, a concert by Mohan Veena exponent Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt at Karkala under the aegis of the local Shastreeya Sangeet Sabha in 1997, the driving force of which is her father Dr Prakash Shenoy, a cardiologist, held her in awe about Hindustani music.  Then itself as an 11-year-old, she had found her calling.  Hence she switched to Hindustani music. 

     After the initial training at her hometown, she came under the tutelage of Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, a recipient of Padma Bhushan and the Grammy Award.  She used to travel as far as Jaipur during her vacations and her learning with him still continues.  The nuances learnt from him made her what she is today - one of the most sough-after young artiste.  She is also a Sangeet Visharad from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. “Impressed by a Bhajan sung by me as a three-and-a half-year-old little girl, my spiritual guru the late Sri Sudheendra Theertha of Kashi Math had foreseen a bright future for me in the field “, reminisces the devout vocalist. She believes it is his blessing that has led her so far.

     A kirana gharana singer, she is open to the positive aspects of all gharanas.  Listening to the exponents in the field has helped her perfect the skill.  She is a great admirer of Begum Parveen Sultana of Patiala gharana, the queen of classical vocal.  Mahalaxmi’s blemish-free voice, intonation and agile rendition catapulted her to different platforms, they being higher every time.

     The child prodigy’s concert odyssey started with a performance in 1999 and she has given more than 1500 concerts since. Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh and Guru Shishya Utsav at Varanasi, Pt. Jithendra Abhisheki Sangeet Utsav, Panaji, Salt Lake Festival, Kolkata, Late Panchakshari Gavayi Music Festival, Baba Hariwallabh Sangeet Sammelan, Jalandhar, Sa Ma Pa Sangeet Sammelan New Delhi, Sawai Gandharv Sangeet Samaroh and Nadgir Waade Sangeet Mahotsav, Kundagol, Ananya, Arohi and Saptak in Bangalore, are just a few prestigious events from her long list of concerts. Not only she has widely travelled in the country but also performed in Dubai, UAE, Germany and gave a series of concerts in the USA.

     Equally proficient in light and devotional music, she sings Kannada, Konkani songs with élan apart from Meera Bhajans and Marathi Abhangs.  She has composed music for over 1000 songs. Proficiency laced with devotion is the hall mark of her renditions.  Her rendition of a Konkani song of light music genre, Yore pora amgele ghara … penned by R D Kamath and composed by Pt. Vasanth Kanakapure has turned out to be her USP  over the years, albeit inadvertently.   Mahalaxmi’s music is synonymous with this song on child Krishna set in the raag Ahir Bhairav.  “Many memories keep gushing when I think of the song. It has a spellbinding impact on all, be it toddler, young children or mothers,”   she chuckles.

     Sitar maestro Pt. Ravishankar, the guru of Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt had attended one of her 20 concerts in the USA.  Despite wheelchair-bound then, he wanted to listen to the disciple of his disciple. “I had the huge responsibility of upholding the reputation of my guru. It was a real test for me. Panditji’s words of encouragement, however, had put    me in ease,” says Mahalaxmi recalling the incident. 

     Her performance at Kundagol, at the Wade of Sawai Gandharva, an all time doyen of Hindustani music, to a gathering of seasoned artistes and connoisseurs of music was a “divine experience beyond words”.  But she does not forget to add that each performance is unique and an experience in itself.

     She has, to her credit, many albums in Konkani, Kannada, Hindi and Marathi such as Anagha, Guru guna gana, Eddu baro Ranga, Krishnarpana, Yore Badarayana,  Meera, Vasudeva ganamala and Guru namana.  For some she has composed and sung also, and in some she has lent voice. In Vivekanand ko Sangeetanjali she has joined other artistes.

     Though firmly rooted in the classical tradition, Mahalaxmi is not averse to experiments. Recently she came up with a presentation with an ensemble of young instrumental artistes of both Hindustani and Carnatic genres with her vocal rendition. It’s going from the higher altar of classical music to patriotic song with many variations like light music, folk song, movie song in between.

      Several prestigious honours like Surmani, from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai, Abhinav Kala Sanman, Bhopal, Bhaktidhara from Bhajanamruta, Chennai, Malhar Manishi from Malhar for Rains, Ajmer and many more are in her kitty. With so much of achievement and recognition, doesn’t she feel complacent? A humble Mahalaxmi admits, “My achievement is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much to fathom into.” Music is a life time commitment for the performer. 

     It’s nothing but music which is the heart and soul of this double postgraduate in Social Work as well as Counselling and Psychotherapy. “Once you are into a creative field like music you would find every other profession a bit monotonous. With music you are at peace with yourself,” she opines.

      The singer who has transformed into a seasoned artiste over the years is completely in agreement with what her guru says that music is the gift of god for the benefit of mankind. Bestowed with that gift, Mahalaxmi’s is working to touch the soul of people. She has chosen music as her medium. Yes, it’s a kind of therapy.