Dasara today: wither brand Mysore

Dasara was a brand promoter for Mysore's products. For the Mysore Maharajas, the Dasara exhibition in particular was a window to promote brand Mysore, a 100 per cent 'desi' show. People came to Mysore from all over to see the grandeur of the Wodeyars' royal Dasara and buy goods that the then Mysore state produced.

If visitors cherished to buy the Mysore products in this grand exhibition, either for use or as treasure, the producers took pleasure in selling them as Mysore's brand.

The exhibition was a must for every visitor for he loved to carry some 'Mysore' memento or the other.

By 1950s Mysore had emerged as a modern state with a number of new industries backing its industrial and economic development, for which the far-sighted ruler, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV and his dewan Sir M Visvesvaraya had laid the foundation. There was vibrant economic activity across the state.

The state's products like the sandalwood oil and sandal soaps had gained international fame and market. In fact, the Mysore maharaja had a special officer in London to market sandalwood oil that Mysore and Shimoga factories produced.

While the two factories became popular, the export of the 'golden oil' brought foreign exchange to the princely state.

Added to the prestigious products were the Mysore silk sarees, with their gold brocades and borders. Every woman aspired to add one or two sarees to her wardrobe every year. So also Mysore's famous agarbattis.

Channapatna spunsilk, Hunsur handwoven rugs, khadi, from Badanval, Kolar and a host of other rural khadi centres, attractive toys from Channapattana, lamps (bulbs) from Mysore Lamps, art pieces from craftsmen from several places, implements from the Mysore Implements Factory at Hassan, leather goods from Bangalore Chrome Tanning Company and the most popular paper products from the Bhadravati Paper Mills.

The products went by the 'Mysore' brand name. Mysore Exhibition was the right place for their annual purchase by visitors and locals and also witness how some of them are manufactured.

The visitors leisurely walked through the tastefully put up stalls, in rows of identical blocks to buy these and other products. The building, now branded 'old' exhibition buildings on Irwin Road, was constructed for the event.

Like the 'old' exhibition, many of these products have disappeared or have lost their image and popularity. With that the 'Mysore brand' too has disappeared.

Unlike today, the exhibition used to take off on the very first day of Dasara, the stalls ready to hawk their goods.

Generally by the end of the tenth day of Dasara, the stall holders would have had substantial business.

Present day Dasara Exhibition takes off for business only after the tourists leave Mysore after Vijaya Dasami.

This year too it is no exception. An exhibition of empty stalls was declared open at the Doddakere Maidan, its present venue, on October 4!