ULSOOR

 Mention of the name Ulsoor, now Halasuru, excites me very much, because it is my birth place and I have spent my childhood in this locality. This is one of the oldest localities in Bangalore. A serene place with a blend of all religions and languages. The city has witnessed many civil disturbances for various reasons, but one never heard of Ulsoor not being in the thick of things. It is one of the friendly neighbourhoods of the city. The locality got its name from jack fruit, "Halasina Hannu" in Kannada. It appears there were many jack fruit gardens in the area and hence the name Halasuru, which became Ulsoor after the advent of the British.

 It is a very busy place with all kinds of activities throughout the year. Bazaar street, Jogupalayam, Murphy town and Guntroop are the most crowded areas now, were crowded even during the 1950s. Almost all the youngsters including myself would like to test their cycling skills in these crowded areas. A play ground called "Gundappa Ground", which now houses the Corporation Maternity Hospital, was always active with youngsters and elders indulging in some sports. Many international footballers like Kempaiah, Arumainayagam, Ethiraj and Thangaraj to mention a few, have played in this ground. Annual Republic Day sports conducted on this ground is another colorful event.

Busy Bazaar Street in Ulsoor

 As far as religious festivals are concerned, the people of the locality used celebrate festivals of all religions with equal enthusiasm and joy. To mention a few of them, Oorhabha performed at Sri Kempamma Devi Temple is still fresh in my memories. Ladies mostly from Jogupalayam will come neatly and colourfully dressed in groups. Each of them will be carrying "Belaku Mavu" on their heads. Local musicians playing devotional songs would lead the procession. This will be followed by animal sacrifice and feeding the evil spirits with blood soaked rice in the middle of the night. The event will be very fearsome one. All the children of the area will not allowed to come out of the house after dusk, even the elders will not leave the house on any account after night.  Annual car and Pallaki festivals of Sri Someswara Swamy Temple is another beautiful and colorful event of the locality. St Lourd's Church on Cambridge Road also bursts with activities, when St Lourd Mary's statue taken on a decorated cart on procession was the only activity on the otherwise very serene Cambridge Road.

Sri Someswara Swamy Temple

 Ulsoor Lake is another great spot where many colourful events are held. Ulsoor lake is only surviving lake constructed by Kempe Gowda II. It is spread over an area of approximately 124 acres. The lake was remodeled and it got the present shape during the Britishers' regime. People would gather around the lake to watch the conclusion events of Moharam festival.  Army authorities used to conduct two important events which was watched by many, one is Regatta boat race among the army units, a day long event. Another one is annual Theppam festival of Odukathur Mutt located right behind Thiruvalluvar statue. This is conducted on the full moon day during the Maga month, called Thai Poosam in tamil. The Theppam decorated with colourful lights on a float, the statue of Lord Muruga is placed on the theppam and theppam would go in small circles. Devotees would offer poojas. This practice has been stopped now. The lake consists of as many as five islands, and boating is allowed in the lake. During 1950s the lake was completely dried, baring one island near MEG and Centre, all islands were accessible by foot. It was a wonderful sight. All of us school going children took this opportunity and visited the islands by foot. A small hill-lock with Kempe Gowda Tower was a great picnic spot in those days. Watching the movements of traffic from the tower was a wonderful sight. 

Ulsoor Lake

Tower near the Lake

 During those days Army establishments and Police stations will have gong hung at the entrance where the guard stands and every half an hour the guard would strike the gong to indicate the time. This was very useful especially during the night times. Ulsoor police station and 515 Army Workshop had this arrangement. It will be a great injustice, if I do not mention that many war veterans of two the Great Wars lived in the locality and their families still live there.

It was a very exciting news for me when the first Metro Rail passed through this wonderful  locality. It is needless to say that I hopped on to the Metro Rail on the very first opportunity and enjoyed the ride.