Wadiyar's absence marks Mysore Dasara launch

Dasara-2014 took off to a colourful start amidst devotional fervour on the auspicious ‘Tula Lagna’ this morning atop the Chamundi Hills where Mysore’s deity Goddess Chamundeswari in said to reside in the Chamundi Temple.

The launch, however, witnessed a protest by about 25 pro-Hindu activists opposing the inauguration of the celebrations by Kannada litterateur Girish Karnad, branding him as an ‘atheist’.

Inaugurating the 10-day celebrations after Chamundeswari’s worship, Karnad said he had been mistaken over his stand. He had not denigrated God, but was opposed to superstition and narrow dogmatic views. However, such beliefs were increasingly being spread, misleading the people and viewers of such programmes.

Difference between theists and atheists should be clearly understood. Atheists, who opposed superstitions and blind faith, were present even in earlier days. The debate on the issue continues now too, the writer said and felt that the protestors should not have been arrested as they had a right to do so.

Describing Karnad as a renowned writer and artiste, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah endorsed the views expressed by the playwright and said that he too was wrongly dubbed an atheist. He did visit temples including the Chamundeswari at Chamundi Hills and Malai Mahadeswara at M M Hills. His wife and children worshipped at home.

A person being atheist or theist was not important. It was essential that human values should be developed and recognised, Siddaramaiah said. He recalled the past glory of Dasara and said it was now being celebrated as a ‘State Festival’. Dasara was being celebrated despite drought conditions in some parts of the state. Some areas had received excess rainfall while a few others had got less rains, he stated.

Chamundeswari MLA G T Deve Gowda urged the CM to constitute a ‘Dasara Development Authority’ and also develop infrastructure like roads in Mysore.

The CM later inaugurated a couple of other programmes including the film festival and music programme in front of the palace. Around 20 programmes organised as part of the Rs 12 crore Dasara began today.

The absence of scion of Mysore royal family Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar was markedly felt at the first day’s Navaratri rituals of the royal family in the Palace. The mantle of continuing with the four-century-old tradition fell on Chaduranga Kantharaj Urs, son of Wadiyar’s eldest sister Gayathri Devi. In the absence of a heir, Urs had conducted the last rites of Wadiyar who died on December 10 last.

After traditional religious ceremonies, including worship of the royal family’s home deity Chamundeswari, the sacred sword was worshiped and offerings from leading temples were presented. Attired in royal robes, Urs placed the ‘Pattada Katti’ on the precious stone-studded golden throne, amidst chanting of the Vedic hymns by palace priests. Pramoda Devi too received the temple offerings and offered her respects to the sacred throne.