Republic Day 2022: Karnataka’s Folk Craft Wealth Will Parade The Rajpath As The Only South Indian Tableau This Year

"Honna baagina daaga… Bichole bale ya… Kalasha kannadi molle male karimaniya…" goes the special folk song that has been penned and composed for the tableau from Karnataka that will make it to the Republic Day parade this year.

From Kinnala toys to Yakshagana to a tribute to Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay and her contribution to women empowerment, the lyrics of the 65-second song list out the wealth of folk arts and craft that the state is endowed with, and which is the theme of the tableau this year.

Karnataka is the only south Indian state whose tableau will be a part of tomorrow’s parade, and takes pride in the fact that this is also its 50th year of participation in the annual celebration.

The state made its debut in 1972 and this is the 13th consecutive year that its tableau is making it to the parade.

Titled ‘Karnataka: The Cradle Of Traditional Handicraft’ the 45-feet long, 16-feet high and 14-feet wide tableau had over 100 artists working on it led by renowned art director Shashidhar Adapa. The music and lyrics have been composed by music director Praveen Rao. Folk specialist Dr Radhakrishna Urala oversaw the making of this tableau whose separate portions were created at an art studio at Hesaraghatta on the outskirts of Mangaluru. Twelve artists trained by Urala will perform as the tableau rolls down the Rajpath.

All the 16 GI tagged traditional handicrafts of the state have been featured in the tableau with a large bust of the ‘Mother of Traditional Handicrafts in India‘ Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay placed at the rear of the tableau. She is seen seated at the end offering ‘baagina’ that includes a sandal box, peacock shaped lamp pots, banana fibre bags from Sandur among others.

“Karnataka has the highest number of GI tags in the country. Out of the 346 products that have obtained GI tags in India, Karnataka accounts for 46. This is helping in the marketing and export of these products. Sixteen such traditional artefacts that have GI tags will be showcased in the tableau. It will be a tribute to 50,000 plus artisans in different parts of the state working tirelessly to carry on the legacy of these products,” said Department of Information and Public Relations Commissioner Dr P S Harsha.

A mammoth Mysuru elephant with rosewood inlay carvings will lead the tableau, which also features Bidriware, a metal handcraft from Bidar, Chennapatna toys, Ganjifa cards, Bronzeware, Kinhal Toys, Kolhapuri chappal, Mysore traditional paintings. Various weaves too form a part of this artistic presentation including the Navalgund Jamkhana, Gulledgud khana, the Ilkal, Molakalmuru and Udupi sarees, Mysore silk, alongwith traditional Kasuti and Sandur Lambani embroidery.

The coastal traditions find representation in the Yakshagana models and bronze face masks of the indigenous Bhootaradhana (spirit worship) on either side of the tableau.

The central portion has a huge vase depicting Bidri carving behind which are two large peacocks of the same craft. At the end of the central portion is a large installation of Hanuman depicting Kinhala artwork which is surrounded by Chennapatna toys, lacquerware toys, Navalgunda fabric and sandalwood carvings and terracotta articles.

Since 1972 when the then chief minister Devaraj Urs tasked the Department of Information and Public Relations with the responsibility of making the tableaus, they have been successfully meeting the standards for 13 long years.