Culture of Shimoga

Shimoga is a city in Karnataka that is considered to be the heart of Karnataka and the epitome of Kannada culture and language. The organization and the conduction of the All India Sahitya Sammelana at Shimoga in December 2006 further highlighted the cultural importance of the city of Shimoga. The event was held by Kannada Sahitya Parishat and K S Nisar Ahmed, the well-known Kannada poet was the chairperson of this Parishat.

The culture and the heritage of Shimoga are clearly visible in the architecture of the Chalukyas during the 12th century. There are a lot of temples located within the Shimoga district that prove the cultural importance of Shimoga. Shimoga is also called the “Cultural Capital” of Karnataka and even “The Rice Bowl of Karnataka” and it is found to be a neoteric and advanced megapolis that takes pride in the glorious past and the historical heritage that it possesses.

Religion and Languages Spoken in Shimoga

Shimoga is a city that has outshined itself in the sphere of literacy, creativity, culture and art and it is also known for its people who are affectionate and tender-hearted. Shimoga is also considered a ballpark for vacationists and voyagers serves to be a good spot for researchers and students as well. Kannada is the language that is spoken widely in Shimoga apart from Tamil, Urdu and Hindi which are spoken by certain groups of people in Shimoga.

Most of the people living in Shimoga are Hindus and they constitute nearly 85.45% of the total population of Shimoga. Shimoga also consists of Muslims that are 12.25% of the total population. Apart from the Hindus and the Muslims, there are Buddhists, Christians and people belonging to several other religions staying in Shimoga. There are other exclusive ethnic groups that are found in the city of Shimoga and they are the Havyaka Brahmins and the Sanketis. The Havyaka Brahmins speak Havigannada which is a very unique vernacular of Kannada. The Sanketis are found living in a region called Mattur-Hosahalli and they are generally found speaking Sanketi language. All in all, it can be said that Shimoga is a city that consists of varied religions and people who stay together and live their lives happily.   

 Music and music classes in Shimoga

The culture of Shimoga is found to be very vibrant and it has also been found that the culture of this city is influenced by dance and music to a large extent. The music culture in Shimoga is found to be widespread and it is only because of this reason that there are a large number of music classes available for the people of Shimoga. Music has been in the nerves of the people of Shimoga since a very long time and it is the result of the great rulers with great music knowledge that Shimoga has been ruled by. Some of the popular music classes in Shimoga have been listed below:
Advaita Company
Address
: No.3, Opposite Karnataka Bank,
Thirthallli Road,
Hosahalli, Shimoga Ho,
Shimoga
Karnataka

Saraswati Music School
Address:
Door No 439 Shrinivasa Nilaya,
2nd Cross, Tilaknagar
Shimoga
Karnataka

Shankar Hindustani Shastriya Sangitha Vidyalaya
Address
: Nishanth S V Bldg, Biased Ganapati Temple,
Ravindra Nagar Main Road,
Shimoga
Karnataka

Dance and dance classes in Shimoga

Dollu Kunitha and Yakshangana are the tow noticeable dance forms of Shimoga culture. Yakshangana or the song of the yaksha is basically a musical theatre that is very similar to western Opera. A group of actors divided in two separate categories namely mummela and himmela perform the Yakshangana. The dialogues are delivered by the mummela group while the dancing and the background music are handled by the himmela group. Dollu Kunitha is drum dance and it starts with Lord Beeralingeswara praise and this dance form is a source of replenishment, religious education, spirituality and entertainment for the spectators. There are many institutes and dance academies in Shimoga that render classes in Dollu Kunitha and Yakshangana and at the same time there are dance academies that also offer training in western dance forms.
Yakshagana: Role of Bhasmasura and Mohini
Artists performing Yakshagana playing the roles of Bhasmasura and Mohini

Some of the popular dance academies in Shimoga have been detailed below:
Amhinava Dance Class
Address:
Near Vandana Theater,
Puttananjappa Street,
N T Road, Bus Stand
Shimoga
Karnataka

Manu Kala Kendra
Address:
Behind Datta Mutt,
Vinayaka Nagar,
Durgigudi Shimoga,
Shimoga
Karnataka

Shri Hari Dance School
Address:
Jagadhamba Keri,
Vidya Nagar
Shimoga
Karnataka

Drama and theater in Shimoga

The description of the culture of Shimoga would remain incomplete without mentioning the theater and drama cult that is followed in the city. There are some drama and theatre academies in Shimoga that have played a very important role in screening classical films and holding dramas in the entire city. Some of the most popular theater artists and dramatists have evolved from the city of Shimoga this proves the importance of the city in the form of a cultural spot. 

Art and Craft, art galleries and handicrafts in Shimoga

Art, craft and handicrafts are also found to be quite flourished in entire Shimoga. Gudigars are found in Shimoga and these are a special clan of craftsmen who are experts in the technique of craving designs that are beautiful and intricate on sandalwood and wood. The Sorab and Sagar taluks of Shimoga have these people living. The Government of Karnataka is wholly responsible for the purchase and the sale of the articles that are made by the Gudigars. These intricately carved handicrafts contributes a great income share to the economy of Shimoga.
Handicrafts in Shimoga
Mesmerizing and intricately designed handicrafts made out of sandalwood by artisans in Shimoga

The city of Shimoga also consists of a number of good and functional art galleries and some have been listed below:  
Hafeez Arts & Printers
Address
: No.3, Pandurannga Kalyana Mantap,
T K Road, Bhadravathi,
Shimoga
Karnataka

Supreme Art Galleries,
Address:
Aynur Gate Circle,
Sagar Road,
Shimoga
Karnataka
Landmark: Near St. Joseph Church
Mobile: 9448255317

Festivals and Fairs in Shimoga

The most famous festival of the city of Shimoga is Dasara which is celebrated with unsurpassed pageantry and grandeur in Shimoga. During this festival, the entire city of Shimoga is found to be decorated marvelously with electric lights and garlands. There are a number of cultural programmes also organized during this festival. Not only the festival of Dasara but Shimoga is a city that also hosts a number of trade fairs, exhibitions and folk fairs. The Kannada Sahitya Sammelana and Folk Fair were conducted in the year 2006 in Shimoga. The other important and absolutely marvelous attractions of the culture of Shimoga are Kodachadri Vybhava, Marikamba Jatre and Palapushpa Pradarshana. The Palapushpa Pradarshana is annual exhibition of flowers conducted at Gandhi Park in Shimoga and it carries on for three days. Kodachadri Vybhava is a five to seven days long annual festival organized with the motive of encouraging and promoting traditional crafts, local cuisine, agricultural products and small scale industries. Marikamba Jatre is another annual festival of Shimoga held in dedication to Goddess Marikamba.
Goddess Marikamba
The function called Marikamba Jatre dedicated to Goddess Marikamba is celebrated in a grand manner in Shimoga

Auditoriums in Shimoga

Shimoga also consists of a number of auditoriums that are used for the purpose of weddings, exhibitions and annual festivals in Shimoga. Some of the popular auditoriums of Shimoga have been detailed below:
Kuvempu Ranga Mandira
Address
: M V Road,
Shimoga
Karnataka

Scout Bhavan
Address
: Shimoga, Karnataka, India

Subha Mangala Kalayana Mantapam
Address:
60 Feet Road, Vinobanagara,
Shimoga
Karnataka


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