Karnataka in quandary over Mysore Dasara this time around

Organisers of state-sponsored Nada Habba, in which the royal part is reflected, are in a quandary over utilising the palace as the venue

The demise of the last male descendent of the erstwhile royal family of Mysore, Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, in December last, leaving a vacuum, has cast a shadow over the Dasara celebrations this year in Mysore.

The officials concerned with organising state-sponsored Nada Habba, in which the royal part is reflected, are in a quandary over utilising the palace as the venue for the Dasara programmes, including the procession, which has been a grand spectacle for many years.

As the celebrations are about 80 days away – the 10-day Dasara festivities commence on September 25 and concludes on October 4 – the officials concerned have to begun the preparations, with the maiden event of the ‘Gaja Payana’ or the formal departure of elephants from the forest to participate in the celebrations, well ahead of the commencement of Dasara .

Even after the state government took over the celebrations, declaring it as ‘Nada Habba’, Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar continued with his private durbar, including sitting on the throne and going in a procession on the Vijaya Dasami day.

Though it was a subdued affair, the tradition and grandeur associated with the historic celebrations were continued for all the 10 days. His private celebrations were increasingly becoming a major attraction, drawing huge crowds.

Besides, the palace was also the venue for the public viewing of the golden throne, music festival and inauguration of the Vijaya Dasami procession and illumination. The government was also availing of the golden howdah for the procession and a certain other personal paraphernalia lent by Wadiyar, which had added a royal touch to the state celebrations, reflecting the glory of the Dasara of the Wadiyars’ era. The state government was also formally inviting Wadiyar seeking his co-operation for the state celebrations.

A clear picture has to emerge about these issues before undertaking the preparations for this year’s Dasara and answers to these questions have to come from the late Wadiyar’s wife, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar.

To media queries, district in-charge minister V Srinivasa Prasad said yesterday that he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would shortly meet Pramoda Devi, and discuss with her the ways to find answers and get a clear picture on the royal family’s stand. The meeting is likely to take place on July 19.

With no heir announced yet, questions have come to the fore on the royal family itself continuing with its ancient traditions of holding the rituals and celebrations at the palace, which were being continued by Wadiyar.

However, if relied on the history of the Yadu dynasty, the royal family has not dropped the celebrations even under tragic or difficult cirumstances on many occasions. Raja Wadiyar, who took possession of Srirangapatna in 1610 AD, has laid down elaborate norms on the conduct of the celebrations which has been followed since then by the Wadiyars.

Despite his son’s death and mourning, Raja Wadiyar conducted the Navaratri, and prescribed norms that the royal family’s worship of Devi in the traditional form should not be discontinued under any circumstance.

In the background of this deeply-established tradition, the royal event may continue in all possibilities without a break.