Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SB)

Mangalore, Mar 54: ‘Rayaratha’, a spectacular light and sound show recreating the magic of Vijayanagara era at Nehru Maidan here is all set to get a royal start at 7.00  pm on Saturday March 5. The show will be on Sunday March 6 as well.

 The programme will be inaugurated by the district in-charge minister, Krishna J Palemar at 6.00 pm. The programme has the noble motive of  introducing the grandeur of the Vijayanagara rule and the biography of Krishnadevaraya to the new generation. This is to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Krishnadevaraya’s coronation. 

An hour-long show will cover important aspects of Vijayagara Empire, including birth, coronation, marriage, friendship with the British, stone chariot, Ugra Narasimha idol, Vittala temple, Hampi Bazaar, Anjaneya Hill, Akka-Thangi boulder, and other memorials of the Vijayanagara empire with the help of light and sound. It can be recalled here that the empire was well-known for rich art, architecture, literature, music and theatre art. Hampi, capital of the empire, was a very large city, spread over an area of 90 square kilometres.

The important memorials of the empire have been artificially built in the Nehru Maidan. School and college students have been allowed to visit the same. Entry for the programme will be free.

M K Mutt is the director of the show. This is one among such shows being arranged by the State tourism department in total 20 district headquarters of the state, in association with the respective district administrations.