Ministers meet Pramoda Devi to sort out differences with palace

With less than a week to go for the Dasara celebrations to commence in Mysore, hurried touches are being given to give a facelift to the city that has been hosting the historic and religious festivities for centuries.

The golden throne was assembled in the palace today, marking preparations for the conduct of Dasara-related religious rites by the royal family. Following the absence of a heir to conduct religious ceremonies and conduct the traditional durbar, the sacred sword will be placed on the throne and religious rites performed in keeping with past traditions.

On account of the religious rites, entry timings for tourists to the palace have been changed. The palace will remain closed to tourists on October 3 and October 4 on account of Ayudha Puja and Vijaya Dasami.

Meanwhile, district incharge minister V Sreenivasa Prasad and co-operation Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad met Pramoda Devi, wife of late Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, in the palace here this evening, accompanied by district officials. They wanted to sort out the differences that have cropped over the conduct of cultural programmes in front of the palace.

Pramoda Devi had expressed her displeasure over holding the state-spoonsored music and dance programmes in front of the palace in the evenings through the nine days of the celebrations in view of the year-long mourning being observed by the royal family.

After discussions with Pramoda Devi, a date will be fixed to present her with the official invite for the state-sponsored celebrations and honorarium on behalf of the government.

After the palace priests performed the initial worship in presence of Pramoda Devi, the historic golden throne was brought from the palace strong room to the Amba Vilas Private Durbar Hall and its assembly was taken up.

Though Dasara is set to commence on September 25, a few programmes have already begun. The Dasara Yuva Sambhrama, the youth cultural programmes, is drawing big crowds of youth at the Manasa Gangotri Open Air Theatre.

‘Grammena Dasara’ is being celebrated in taluk headquarters. Crafts and fine arts programme will commence from tomorrow.