Mangalore - a multilingual and multicultural city

Location and History

Mangalore, officially known as Mangaluru, is the main port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about 352 km (219 miles) west of Bengaluru, the capital city, between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats mountains. The population of the urban agglomeration was 623,841, according to 2011 national census of India. Mangaluru is the largest city and administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district and is one of the most multi-cultural cities of India. It is also the largest city in the Coastal and Malnad regions of Karnataka, besides being an educational and healthcare and industrial hub on the West Coast.

Mangalore is the heart of the multilingual city with multi-culture: Tulunadu, the motherland of Tulu speaking people is surrounded by 3 districts of South Canara, Udupi, and Kasaragod(part of current Kerala state). It is said that in the third century B.C, this town was under the jurisdiction of the famous Maurya empire, ruled by the Buddhist emperor, Ashoka of Magadha. From the third century to 7th century, it was a part of Kadamba dynasty of the region. From the middle of the seventh century to the end of 14th century, this region was ruled by Alupa rulers, who were the feudatories of major regional dynasties like the Chalukyas of Badami, Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta, and Hoysalas of Dwarasamudra. The history of this city is recorded from the time, around 7th century AD and many foreign travelers like Ibn Battuta, Vasco da Gama described this land in different names like Manjarur, Mangalapuram. It is also believed that the place name Mangalore is named after the goddess Mangaladevi. This city has 7 different names in different languages, probably the only place on earth with multiple names for a single city. They are:
Kudla(Tulu)
Mangalooru(Kannada)
Mangalapuram(Malayalam)
Kodeyaala(Havyaka)
Kodial (Konkani)
Maikala (Beary)
Manjarun(Sanskrit)

People

As you enter the city and start talking with people, the first thing that you notice is the dialect of Kannada language. If you speak to a localite in Kannada, then it is the flawless Kannada dialect that you would hear with complete words pronounced unlike the northern part of the state or Bangaloreans talk, who shorten the words while talking. More than Kannada, you would hear people talking Tulu since it is the main spoken language in the region without a bias of caste, creed or religion. A person living in this city would automatically learn this language without any 'extra' effort nor tuition! :)

Tulu is an ancient Dravidian language that finds its mention in the poems of Tamil poet Mamular, who belong to Sangam age(around 2A.D) During the British era, Robert Caldwell, a missionary and linguist, described this language as a peculiar and very interesting to learn in this work A Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian family of languages. Tulu was traditionally written in Tigaliri script, which looks like a Malayalam script. This script t is known to a very few people today and therefore, we do not see much literature in the language. Because of this unique culture that is present in the region a section of the entities and political outfits demand a separate state named Tulunadu, consisting of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Kasaragod districts, but they don't reflect the opinion of the majority. People here prefer to identify themselves as Tuluvas, having said that Kannada is not ignored at all, both of these languages are cherished and respected by the people.

Apart from the bilingual dominance of Tulu and Kannada, a considerable section of the people speak other languages like Konkani, Malayalam, Beary language. Below are some of the most commonly heard slangs when visiting this place in the two prominent languages.
Kannada:
'Entha maaraya, mande bisi maadbeda' meaning, don't be tensed/upset bro!
'bhayankara untu' meaning it's great or dangerous
'mangana haage madbeda' meaning don't behave like a monkey(this is generally used when elders talk to their juniors/sub-ordinates)
Tulu:
'yenchina saav ya', meaning what the hell is this!
'mooji kaas daaye' meaning low-class fellow or pointing towards a person in an inferior way.
'podu saila' meaning get lost.
'jigga maare' meaning you look awesome!

Food

The main traditional vegetarian food of this region are pundi, moode, neer dosa, appi payasa, guliyappa, patrode, otthu shyavige along with varieties of idli and dosa. Many of these cuisines seems a bit influenced by Tamil Nadu cuisines. If you like to taste non-veg food then a must try in Mangalore region is Kori Rotti, Marvai Pundi, Chicken Sukka, Prawn Ghassi, Beary Biriyani, Mangalorean Egg Curry. Whether you eat vegetarian food or non-veg food, coconut is the key ingredient in cooking in many varieties of cuisines. To beat the heat in the city, one must visit the Pabbas Ideal ice-cream parlour, the brand's signature dish named Gadbad, a tall glass with layers of ice-cream, jelly, dry-fruits and fresh fruits.

Festivals

Mangalore Dasara is one of the biggest festivals in Mangalore and stands second place after Mysore Dasara in the state of Karnataka. The tiger dance (pili vesha) and beer dance (karadi vesha) are the main attractions during Navaratri or Dasara festival. So if you are visiting this region during this time, never miss out to watch these folks! The Ganesh Chaturthi festival is celebrated every year by erecting statues, worshipping them and immersing them in water bodies as a social event as well as individually in every house. Kodial Theru or Mangalore Car Festival celebrated in honour of the Lord Sri Venkatramana Temple, Carstreet. Monti Fest is one of the major festivals of the Mangalorean Catholic community, celebrating the Nativity feast and the blessing of new crops. The Jain Milan, a committee of the Jain families of Mangalore, organize the Jain Food Festival annually with a view to bringing together all the members of the Jain community. People of all faiths participate in the Mosaru Kudike, which is a part of the celebrations to mark the Krishna Janmashtami festival. Annual festivals are promoted during summer each year, to promote Karavali Utsav, Kite festival and Kudlostava which encourages the local cultural events.

Culture

Bootha kola or dhaiva nema
One of the popular cultural events that is seen in this part of the country is 'Bootha Kola' or 'dhaiva nema', literally translates to 'spirit performance'. In the earlier times, issues/disputes related to family, land were solved by these means. The bootha or dhaiva is considered to be a representative of God and his words were treated as final and binding. It is believed that the person who is performing the bootha acts as an oracle for the diety he is representing. Paaddhanaas are a part of these events in which Tulu songs are sung describing the origin and deeds of these holy spirits. Some of the examples of these are Bobbariya, Panjurli, Jumadhi, Chamundi, Guliga. People in the region give significant importance and faith for bootha kola just like how a God is worshipped.

Yakshagana
Another popular event of this region is Yakshagana, it is a traditional theatre form that combines dialogue, dance, costume, make-up, music and stage techniques with a unique style and form. It is conventionally presented from dusk to dawn and its stories are drawn from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata and other epics from both Hindu and Jain traditions. With time, this art form is modified and the currently played for lesser hours till early morning 1 am or 3 am and the topics are picked based on the current social issues too and not only from epics so that people are educated in a creative manner to address the real problems of the society.

Kambala
Kambala is an annual Buffalo Race held traditionally under the auspices local landlords and households in coastal Karnataka. The Kambala race track is a slushy paddy field and the buffaloes are driven by a whip-lashing farmer. In rural areas, it is a celebrated with rituals and farmers consider that this race is to give thanks for protecting them from diseases. The Kambala season generally starts in November and lasts until March. Kadri kambala is the famous one amongst all. The so-called animal lovers criticised kambala as a cruel to the racing buffaloes since they are driven by whips and therefore, it was banned in 2014 based on the lawsuits filed by animal welfare associations along with jallikattu. However, the ban on jallikattu was lifted in January 2017 and an order was issued by the government for kambala racers to avoid using whips during the race. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2018 re-legalized the kambala festival in Karnataka and this bill was recently approved on February 19, 2018, by current President Ram Nath Kovind.

Nagamandala utsava or nagaradhane
Nagaradhane is a popular form of snake worship. Snakes are not just worshipped they are respected and protected for multiple socio-religious and ecological reasons. This worship is little differently practiced in Tulunadu compared to other festivals and rituals. Snakes have their own shrines and a sacred grove called nagabana. These shrines have cobra images carved stones. Wherever we see these stoned shrines, nobody is allowed to cut the trees around it. It is believed that the snakes, especially cobras are not to be harmed or killed by anyone. If one harms or kills even without knowledge, the individual has to perform a ritual to cleanse the sin of harming the snake. The popular belief is that the one who refuses to perform the ritual will be cursed by the snake and will not prosper in any aspect of life. Nagamandala, Ashlesha Bali, Dakke Bali are different types of poojas done for the snakes to please them.

Kori-Katta
Another traditional event in the region is Kori-Katta, meaning the cockfight. It is an intense sport and recreation for some, or pastime to others, while many consider it an ancient religious ritual and a ceremony associated with the temples or ‘daivasthanams’ if held at the temple's precincts.

Visiting places around the city
Mangalore (or Kudla in Tulu) is the chief port city of Karnataka. With its beaches, roads and calm localities this coastal city was declared the eighth cleanest city in India. Thanks to the people who live in this city and keep it clean and green! Below are some of the main visiting places in and around Mangalore.

Temples and Religious places

1) Shri Manjunatha Temple, Kadri: The Kadri Manjunatha Temple located in Mangalore is said to be built during the 10th or 11th century. It was converted to a complete stone structure during the 14th century. It is said that the idol of Lord Manjunathaswamy of the temple is called as the oldest of the South Indian Temples.

Image credit: srikateeltravels.com

2) Polali Rajarajeshwari Temple: Polali is a place in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, around 19 kilometers from Mangalore town. The primary deity of the temple is Shri Rajarajeshwari. The temple was constructed in the 8th century AD by King Suratha and was protected by many dynasties who ruled over the region. The idol of Shri Rajarajeshwari is completely moulded from clay with special medicinal properties. The temple portrays Hindu architecture with roofs adorned with wooden carvings of gods and copper plates. The Polali Chendu festival is a widely popular football game which is conducted for a period of five days during the annual temple festival.

Image credit: srikateeltravels.com

3) Mangaladevi temple: The Mangaladevi Temple is at Bolara in the city of Mangalore, situated about three km southwest of the city. The name 'Mangalore' is believed to have been derived from the name 'Mangaladevi' the goddess Mangala, the main deity of the temple.

Image source: tripadvisor.in

4) Kudroli temple: The Gokarnanatheshwara Temple, otherwise known as Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra, is in the Kudroli area of Mangalore in Karnataka, India. It was consecrated by Narayana Guru. It is dedicated to Gokarnanatha, alternate name of Lord Shiva. Compared to the other temples in and around Mangalore this temple was built recently.


5) Sharavu Mahaganapathi temple: Sri Mahaganapathy Kshetra is an outstanding, pious center of the great history of over 800 years. Since the temple is located in the heart of the city, locating and reaching the temple is very easy.

Image credit: templeinfo.in

6) St Aloysious Chapel: The Chapel is located in the heart of the city on the Lighthouse Hill. St. Aloysius College Chapel is an architectural marvel. It was built by Jesuit Missionaries in 1880 and its interiors painted by the Italian Jesuit Antonio Moscheni in 1899. The beautiful paintings inside the chapel literally cover every inch of the wall and that gives unique look to this architecture.

Image source:aroundmangalore.com

7) The Milagres Church: It is a historic Roman Catholic Church situated in the Hampankatta locality of Mangalore. The church was built in 1680 by Bishop Thomas de Castro, a Theatine from Divar, Goa. It is one of the oldest churches in Dakshina Kannada.


Pilikula Nisargadhama
Pilikula Nisargadhama is another multi-purpose tourist attraction, at Vamanjoor near Mangalore in Karnataka, promoted by the District Administration of Dakshina Kannada. This area offers you the scenic beauty and peace. Pilikula has a huge lake encircled by beautiful gardens. Swans and ducks swim in the lake and sometimes occupy the gardens. Boating facilities are available in the lake with peddle boats and larger boats carrying 10 to 15 individuals. The park is spread over an area of 370 acres comprising of a tropical forest and the enchanting Pilikula Lake. The project presently includes a Biological Park, Swami Vivekananda 3D Planetarium, a Science Centre, a Lake Park with Boating Centre, a Water Amusement Park and a Golf Course. Other features which are currently being developed include a Heritage Village, an Ayurveda Health Therapy Centre and Tourist Cottages. Yes, if you are tired of your boring routine activities, then come here and spend your day to relieve to recharge yourself with nature!

Beaches
1) Tannirbhavi beach:
It is located at a distance of 12kms from the city. It can only be reached by land via Kuloor bridge or by ferry via Gurupura river from Sultan Battery. This beach has some basic facilities like lifeguards, proper toilets, a parking lot, a couple of small eateries and concrete benches. Tannirbhavi Tree Park is another initiative by Karnataka Forest Department. The Tree Park includes tree species found in the Western Ghats and also the trees/plants are herbal and have medical importance. It has various sculptures depicting the culture of the region such as Yakshagana and Bootha Kola. On the other side of the land strip of the beach, there is a barge-mounted 220 MW power plant set up by the GMR group.


2) Sultan Battery:
Sultan Battery is a watchtower, constructed in 1784 by Tipu Sultan. It is situated 4 km from the center of Mangalore city. You can cross the river from Sultan Battery by taking a ferry & reach the Tannirbhavi beach. It was constructed from stones of 23 churches destroyed by Tipu Sultan, during his 15-year imprisonment of the Mangalorean Catholics and the other Christians. It has an underground storage place under the tower that was used to store gunpowder. It was the major dockyard and arsenal of the rule to intercept enemy warships and prevent them from docking in the region.


3) Panambur beach:
Panambur beach is supposedly the most famous beach in Mangalore. Many factories are located at Panambur including Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers and Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited. The 'Kite festival' in Panambur beach is a spectacular event & one to watch out for. As of now, this beach is maintained by a private enterprise under the banner of "Panambur Beach Tourism Development Project". Added attractions include jet ski rides, boating, dolphin viewing, food stalls along with highly skilled and trained lifeguards who patrol the beach to ensure visitors safety. The ships anchored out in the sea waiting for a berth in the harbor can be seen from the Beach which presents an attractive picture. As Mangalore has a tropical monsoon climate and is under the direct influence of the Arabian Sea branch of the southwest monsoon, the best season to visit Panambur Beach is between October and February just after the rains and before the commencement of summer.


4) Someshwara beach:
This beach is located in Ullal area in the city of Mangalore, India. The name ‘Someshwara beach’ is derived because of Lord Somanatha temple standing for several centuries on the seashore. Close to this beach, there is a hill called ‘Ottinene hill’. On reaching the top of this hill we can see and enjoy the beautiful scenery of river Netravati merging and disappearing in the Arabian Sea. There are lush green vegetation and number of medicinal plants that are naturally grown on this hill. This beach is also famous for large rocks called Rudra Shile or Rudra Paadhe, Rudra is Lord Shiva and "Shile" or "Paadhe" means rock in Tulu language. During high tide, the sight of waves dashing against the rocks evokes an awesome feeling for the power of nature.

5) NITK Beach, Suratkal:
Surathkal is a suburb of Mangalore city located on National Highway 66 (in the Dakshina Kannada district), Karnataka state. It lies between Phalguni and Nandini rivers. It can be considered as the northernmost area of Mangalore City Corporation geographical limits. Surathkal NITK beach is around 19 kilometers north of Mangalore city. It appears to be the only beach in India that is managed privately by an institute, that is NITK. A lighthouse was constructed at the beach in 1972. The panoramic view from the top of the rocks and views from the lighthouse gives a treat to our eyes of the Arabian sea along with the greeneries on the shore. The lighthouse is open to visitors between 4.00 pm and 5 pm. This serene beach is yet to get exposure from the tourism perspective.


Sources:
wikipedia
wikiwand.com

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