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Karnataka,
known as "the priceless gift of indulgent nature", is a
unique blend of a glorious past and a rich present. Karnataka is
the sixth largest state in India.It is the only state in India
where gold is found.It is the land of silk and sandal, of coffee
and cardamom, of the 17m statue of Jain Saint Gomateshwara and of
the enchaning sculptural wealth of Belur and Halebid of the
historical ruins of Hampi and monuments of Bijapur; it is the land
that gave India engineer-statesman Sir M Visvesvaraya and the
great generals General Cariappa and General Thimmaiah. To the
composite culture of India, the contribution of Karnataka, is in
no way inferior to that of any other region of India. In fact, in
many fields, Karnataka's contribution far exceeds that of the
other regions individually. This is specially so in the fields of
are, music, religion, and philosophy.
Karnataka,
the "Lofty land" is bounded by Andhra Pradesh in the
east, Maharashtra in the north and Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the
south. A long coastline hedged by miles and miles of tall, waving,
palmgroves frames this pretty land. The majority of the state lies
on the Deccan Plateau. Bangalore is the state capital. Karnataka
boasts a diverse flora and fauna, which make it a nature tourist's
paradise. The state's long and colourful history, and the many
forts, temples, mosques, and churches make it a great place to
explore.Garden city Bangalore, Jog Falls,the beaches of Karwar and
Malpe, Golgumbuz in Bijapur, the stone temples of Belur and
Halebid, Mysore Palace, the list is endless.
Art
& Architecture :
Chalukyan
Dynasty from 450 to 650 A.D, made a great contribution to the
enrichment of Karnataka in the form of development of
architectural wonders, notable amongst them being the temples at
Aihole (Brahman temple design), Patta Dakal (North Indian Nagari
principle) and Badami. Influence of Jainism of the Jain temples
built in Karnataka can be seen at Badami. The contribution of the
Hoysala dynasty, four centuries later, in the field of Art and
Architecture is no less. For example, temples at Belur, Halebid
and Somnathpur, with a star shaped plan of the base and the
shrine, bell shaped towers and extensively carved entrance and
interiors, became a distinctive hall mark of this dynasty's
temples.
Vijaynagar
king's contribution to the advancement of Hinduism and distinct
from of temple architecture seen mostly in their capital Hampi was
no less. The temples of these times, blended with the rocky,
boulder-ridden landscape of Hampi. The Muslim influence on
Karnataka's art and architecture is no less. One can see features
like - domes, minarets etc., in the world's second largest dome
the "Gol Gumbaz, fort at Gulbarga, Bidar, Dargaha of Hazrat
Khwaja Banda Nawaz Gisudiraz, Gulbarga, Madrasah of Mohammed Gawan
& Barid Shahi tomb complex at Bidar, to name a few.
Dance,
Drama & Music :
Open
air folk theatre or "Bayalata" of Karnataka is a famous
dance form. This dance is performed at religious festivals and
family celebrations. It usually starts at night and continues till
the wee hours of the morning. This dance-drama usually has four or
five actors/actresses, assisted by a jester. The theme in these is
usually mythological but sometimes real life incidents are also
highlighted.
"Doddata"
is a less refined dance form than Yakshaganna. In both these dance
forms, stories from "Ramayana" and "Mahabharta"
are enacted. The costumes are elaborate, the make-up is loud,
facial expression are vigorous and are accompanied with loud
noises and war-cries.
The
People :
The
total population of Karnataka is 4,49,77,201. The Kannadigas, as
they are locally known, are famous for their hospitality and
friendly and cultured attitude towards visitors. The people of
Karnataka are accommodating, often, to a fault. Violence is a rare
phenomenon, for the people are peace loving.
Karnataka
possesses a rich cultural heritage. The folk theatre has an
ancient and rich tradition, the two principal forms being
Yakshagana and the puppet theatre. Sravanabelagola, near Mysore,
has a giant 1,000-yr-old stone statue of Bahubali, the Jain saint.
Huge monolithic Jain statues are peculiar to the Kannada culture.
'Yakshagana' is akin to Kathakali of Kerala in the choice of its
elaborate costumes and vigorous dancing. 'Bhootada Kunita' (Dance
of the Divine Cult), 'Nagamandala' and the demon dance are some
quaint rituals prevalent only in Dakshina Kannada coastal area.
The
Lifestyle :
As
major part of the State is rural, the people live a very simple
life. The cities however, present a different picture, being more
modern, fast and cosmopolitan in nature. Kannada is the main
language spoken, read and written. In urban areas, one can get by
with the knowledge of English and Hindi.
The
Religions :
As
in most states of India, the population here is predominantly
Hindu. Followers of Saivism, Vaishnavism and Veera Saivism form
the majority. But all faiths are represented here, and by and
large, people live in amity and co-operation. Muslims and
Christians are in considerable numbers, while Jainism has struck
deep roots in Karnataka. Jains form a sizable section of the
population and have become prominent in the business sector. There
are also Buddhists and Parsis in the State. Religious tolerance is
in the very blood of the Kannadigas, and so conflicts between
followers of the different faiths are rare
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