B M Lavakumar
Mysore Dasara is not mere jumbo procession. Each task has its own significance. The decorated jumbos partaking majestically in Dasara celebrations are treat to eyes, but none knows how much hard work that the skilled tailors put in decorative backpacks that are laid on jumbos.
The golden throne that sits majestically on the back of celebrated jumbo – the Balaram is the focal point of Dasara celebration. Meanwhile, its not everyone is interested in all that traditional clothing that are laid on back of celebrated jumbos. Its not easy a task to tailor such decorative backpack, not everyone can do this task.
Basha has been into this task of tailoring several layers of backpacks that ought to be smooth since the past many years, who is a jumbo tailor in his own right. He stitches the backpack with big needle and requires real skill in measuring the back of jumbo to tailor smooth layers that are comfortable. Pasha has been into the task since 1971, in spite of his retirement in 2006, the forest department has not found a replacement for Pasha. Therefore, Pasha is the only skilled tailor who has been tailoring backpacks to all jumbos that partake in Dasara Utsav.
Pasha was a mahout by profession and was retired handling the palace jumbo – Sarala. He learnt the tailoring from Sultan Saab who was the mahout of earlier celebrated jumbo – Biligiriranga that was carrying the diamond-studded throne during Dasara Utsav. Since then, he had tailored the backpacks for jumbos – Rajendra, Drona, Balarama, Gajendra and all palace jumbos. Since its inevitable that Pasha had to quit his profession some day , he began training the mahout Timma of jumbo Balaram, mahout Vasant of jumbo Arjun, mahout Masti of jumbo Abhimanyu. There is hope that new tailor will replace Pasha soon. However, Pasha loves the company of jumbos that is difficult to give up. He hopes to continue his profession as long as he lives. He experienced several bitter memories, one being he was knocked out by a jumbo during Rajyotsav celebrations in Bangalore, a few years ago. The jumbo indeed broke his knee. Its owing to this, Pasha is not keen on teaching his profession of mahout to his son Mansoor.