Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Jan 19: Barkur will re-live the days of its grand old past during the three-day 'Alupotsava' being organized here again. Barkur was the capital city of certain dynasties in the past and it was known with the name, 'Barah Kanyapur' in the past. It was a small port but rose in prominence during the rule of Kings of Hoysala and Keladi. During the period of Vijayanagara dynasty, the region was at the zenith of its grandeur. History tells us that spices and other items of daily need were being exported to foreign countries from here by ship.

Barkur also happens to be a city that has rich religious and cultural heritage. Over 30 Maths, temples and shrines are located in this town. Barkur, which was built between 300 BC and 200 AD, as per records,had 366 temples at one point of time. Udupi district administration, in association with the department of tourism, has planned this festival in order to further enhance the beauty of Barkur, through which they hope to introduce rich heritage of Tulunadu to the world with the help of the three-day 'Alupotsava' and 'Janapada Yatre'.

This festival had once been organized in the past during 2002-03 by the department of archaeology and Mythic Society.

For the festival, the work of cleaning up the fort of Nandaraya, which belongs to Vijayanagara period, is going on in full swing. Bakur,which had been the state capital in the past, was later neglected as the town was not re-built or reconstructed. Records say that the area was once ruled by famed Bhootala Pandya. There is information about him ruling the state in 77 AD. There is a temple dedicated to Mahishasura, who happened to be the Pandya king's family deity. The work, 'Bhootala Pandya Charitam', mentions about Pandya lineage having ruled Barkur for 259 years.

The governor's fort at Barkur is being readied for the mega festial. 'Rajapalara Kote, pond, palace, store room, and stable for horses etc are being given a face lift. During the last four to five days, five-foot sediment accumulated at the bottom of 40 feet-deep pond has been cleared. More works are going on and during this process, more historic artifacts are being recovered, sources said. During this cleaning work, care has been taken to ensure that the ancient things do not suffer any damage. The bushes and plants which had grown around the palace have been cleared.

The stones forming outer line of the pond, which were scattered, have been neatly positioned now neatly. Different forms like Lord Ganapati, Lord Hanumantha etc have been seen to have been carved out in these stones.

Assistant director in the department of tourism, Anita Bhaskar, said that during the Utsav, exhibition of traditional things will be arranged.

In the bygone period, horses were brought in from Persia, Arabia etc and sold here. A look at the ancient horse shoes provides us a chance to take in their grandeur. For the 'Alupotsava' being held from January 25 to 27, several exhibitions of traditional things will be held, Anita Bhaskar stated. She said that during the period of the festival, an exhibition of several traditional items would be organized.

'Heritage Walk', which represents the grand traditional procession of 'Alupa Utsava', will start from Simhasana Gudde in Barkur, and cover a distance of four kilometres by moving through Panchalingeshwara temple, Batte Vinayaka temple, Gopalakrishna temple, Somanath temple, Manigarara lane, Adiparameshwara Basadi, Kattale Basadi, Chowlikere, Byra Ganapati and Mahalingeshwara temples, Vijayanagara fort, Someshwara temple, Moodukeri, Veerabhadra temple, Hiriya Basadi, Kalikamba temple, Kalluchappara etc.

A number of folk art teams, exhibition of fruits and flowers, variety dances, music, Yakshagana, symposium by resource persons about Alupas etc will be held. The story about the grand old days of Tulunadu will unfold at Bhootala Pandya dais.

Although Udupi district has a number of tourist spots, tourists visit only a few among them. In order to attract more tourists on this occasion, Kattale Basadi has been d decorated with electric lights, and attractive electrical decoration is being done all over the place where 'Alupotsava' would be held. All these are being done under the 'Heritage Walk' scheme of tourism department at a cost of about Rs 25 lac. Anita Bhaskar informed the media that Barkur, a historic city, needs to be visited by more and more tourists, and with this this aim in mind, this programme has been conceived.