Karnataka - Mysore   

Images of a bygone era unfold

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

A tradition: Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar holding a private durbar at the Amba Vilas Palace as part of Dasara festivities on Friday.

MYSORE: Images of a bygone era unfolded in perfect settings, complete with all the regal trappings, as the royal Dasara of the Wadiyars unfolded on the palace premises on Friday.

A tradition inherited from the Vijayanagar rulers, the Navratri festivities as observed and celebrated by the royal family lends a distinct touch to the Dasara and has evoked both curiosity and awe among the tourists.

Celebrated according to the religious injunctions laid down since the time of Raja Wadiyar, it marks the triumph of the good over evil. The celebration commences with the traditional rituals performed by the scion of the royal family and the former MP, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, and concludes with the royal Durbar which takes places at the Amba Vilas Palace.

Clad in royal robes embellished with precious stones, Mr. Wadiyar reached the Amba Vilas while the courtiers aired slogans of victory heralding his arrival.

The actual ceremony is preceded by the assembling of the golden throne which itself is a part of the traditional ritual and is supervised by purohits.

“Pattada aane” (royal elephant), “pattada kudure” (royal horse) and “pattada hasu” (royal cow) were paraded inside the palace and were accompanied by the palace staff, presenting a colourful image. Mr. Wadiyar invoked the family deity and offered prayers to the family tutelary deity Sri Chamundeshwari, after which he proceeded to the Durbar Hall and worshiped the golden throne. He formally ascended the throne after perambulating it thrice and received tributes from the purohits.

During the festivities, Mr. Wadiyar will take part in the religious rituals as prescribed in the texts and worship goddess Chamundeshwari. The religious paraphernalia commences with special prayers to Lord Ganesh. Subsequently, the nine planets or the “Navgrahas” are worshipped after which Mr. Wadiyar, attired in the traditional robes complete with the head gear, ascends the golden throne and receives tributes from the courtiers.

Though reduced to symbolism following the abolition of the monarchy, the practice has evoked tremendous interest and is a great draw every year. At a metaphysical level, Dasara signifies supplanting darkness with light and ignorance with knowledge, and the celebrations that unfolded on the palace premises presented a slice of the past that is a rarity in the present. The private durbar, witnessed by a select gathering, was held twice on Friday. However, it will be restricted to evening during the next eight days. A significant feature of the private durbar or “Khasagi durbar” is the signature tune, composed more than two centuries ago to commemorate the assumption of power by the Wadiyars, which is played during the durbar. This signature tune is reckoned to have been the State anthem when the Wadiyars were in power and is now played during the Dasara.

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