Wadiyars celebrate Royal Dasara at Mysuru Palace

Team Udayavani, Sep 30, 2019, 10:24 AM IST

Mysuru: In the Mysuru palace, the Navaratri celebrations kicked off with Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of Mysuru royal family, dressed in grand attire, conducting Khasagi durbar (private durbar) by ascending the golden throne, amid chanting Vedic hymns.

This was preceded and followed by traditional rituals.

His courtiers too were decked in traditional outfits.

Several literary and cultural events, along with the exhibition, film show, flower show, food mela and sports activities have been organised by the state government as part of the 10-day-long festivities.

The royal palace and several parts of Mysuru city were illuminated with thousands of bulbs glowing all through the festival.

The celebrations culminate with the ‘Jumbo Sawari’ or procession of well decorated elephants carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed in a golden Howdah on Vijayadashmi or the 10th day of the festival, along with display of various tableaux and cultural groups.

Dasara was celebrated by the rulers of the Vijayanagar empire and the tradition was inherited by the Wadiyars.

Festivities were first started in Mysuru by the Wadiyar King, Raja Wadiyar I in the year 1610.

However, with the abolition of the institution of the kings and the announcement of privy purse, the state government took over the mantle of celebrating Dasara.

The state government had decided to release Rs 20.50 crore to organise the world famous Mysuru dasara festival between September 29 and October 8, at a high-level committee meeting on the preparations for the festival that had met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

Meanwhile, the Mangaluru Dasara and Navaratri utsav got underway on Sunday, at the Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara temple.

Dasara celebrations in the coastal city have earned fame over the years.

Various rituals and cultural programmes will be held at the temple as part of the celebrations.

For the first time in Mangaluru Dasara, the procession will be led by a truck carrying Sharada idol followed by other tableaux.