The demise of scion of the Mysore royal family Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar and the resultant year-long mourning in the Wadiyar's family is hanging over the 2014 edition of the Mysore Dasara which is set to commence tomorrow (September 25) in Mysore.
Though the government has made all preparations for the 10-day-long Dasara to make it a crowd-puller, drawing tourists from across the country and outside, the traditional royal celebrations will be limited to the rituals.
What will be missed is the traditional durbar, and Wadiyar sitting on the golden throne and conducting the ceremonial audience, and his grand Vijaya Dasami procession that were increasingly becoming popular, attracting hundreds of people. The royal family is limiting the Dasara this year only to the rituals.
Initially, doubts arose over conducting music programmes in front of the palace by the government, as part of its cultural fair. But, Wadiyar's wife Pramoda Devi reiterating her support to the state-organised Dasara, after district in-charge min- ister V Sreenivasa Prasad held discussions with her, things have taken a smooth course.
Besides cultural programme in front of the palace, a host of programmes will be inaugurated tomorrow. The momentum for the celebrations will be set when Kannada litterateur and Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad inaugurates the celebrations at the Chamundi Temple on the Hills between 8.37 am and 9.05 am tomorrow. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other VIPs will take part.
Security arrangements are further tightened this year by the police who have taken precautionary measures using latest gadgets.
A few among the many programmes include the exhibition, film festival, food, farmers' and women's mela, police band, sports, wrestling, yoga, book exhibition, heritage walk, tour packages, poets' meet, arts expo, flower show, folk dances, cultural programmes at selected venue. Renowned Hindustani vocalist Pandit Indudhar Nirody has been selected for this year's State Sangeetha Vidwan award to be presented during the Dasara festivities.
The city is already in a celebratory spirit with many roads and public and private buildings illuminated after sunset. The palace too will be lit up on all the 10 days. Dampener could be the rains if it lashes the city as they did during the last two evenings if it persists during the festivities.
A noticeable feature is participation of Pramoda Dev in some public functions over the last few days, though she remained in the background when her husband was alive.
Though the government has made all preparations for the 10-day-long Dasara to make it a crowd-puller, drawing tourists from across the country and outside, the traditional royal celebrations will be limited to the rituals.
What will be missed is the traditional durbar, and Wadiyar sitting on the golden throne and conducting the ceremonial audience, and his grand Vijaya Dasami procession that were increasingly becoming popular, attracting hundreds of people. The royal family is limiting the Dasara this year only to the rituals.
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The absence of a heir to Wadiyar has made the family restrict the ceremonies to placing the sacred sword on the throne and its worship. Placing of the sacred sword on the throne under certain extraordinary circumstances has some precedence, including during the time of late Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. It is in accordance with the set procedure by the Wadiyar dynasty.
Initially, doubts arose over conducting music programmes in front of the palace by the government, as part of its cultural fair. But, Wadiyar's wife Pramoda Devi reiterating her support to the state-organised Dasara, after district in-charge min- ister V Sreenivasa Prasad held discussions with her, things have taken a smooth course.
Besides cultural programme in front of the palace, a host of programmes will be inaugurated tomorrow. The momentum for the celebrations will be set when Kannada litterateur and Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad inaugurates the celebrations at the Chamundi Temple on the Hills between 8.37 am and 9.05 am tomorrow. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other VIPs will take part.
Security arrangements are further tightened this year by the police who have taken precautionary measures using latest gadgets.
A few among the many programmes include the exhibition, film festival, food, farmers' and women's mela, police band, sports, wrestling, yoga, book exhibition, heritage walk, tour packages, poets' meet, arts expo, flower show, folk dances, cultural programmes at selected venue. Renowned Hindustani vocalist Pandit Indudhar Nirody has been selected for this year's State Sangeetha Vidwan award to be presented during the Dasara festivities.
The city is already in a celebratory spirit with many roads and public and private buildings illuminated after sunset. The palace too will be lit up on all the 10 days. Dampener could be the rains if it lashes the city as they did during the last two evenings if it persists during the festivities.
A noticeable feature is participation of Pramoda Dev in some public functions over the last few days, though she remained in the background when her husband was alive.