The famous 10-day Dasara festival celebrations in this city of palaces have been low-key in the absence of scion Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, who passed away last December in Bangalore, about 150 km away.
For the first time in many years, the royal family was forced to place the royal sword on the golden throne on which the scion used to sit and conduct the festival rituals in the Amba Vilas Palace durbar since he succeeded his father and last Mysore Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar in 1974.
As the royal family is yet to appoint a successor to the scion, his nephew Chaduranga Kantharaj Urs performed the day-long rituals, including Ayudha puja (worshipping of weapons) Friday, ahead of Vijayadashmi (victory day) Saturday.
Urs is son of Gayatri Devi, elder sister of the scion and eldest daughter of Jayachamarajendra.
"Scion's absence has robbed the Dasara fete of its grandeur, as the royal family members, especially his widow Pramoda Devi is yet to recover from his grievous loss. As it is a solemn occasion, the festival is being celebrated privately for continuity," a palace official in-charge of the fest told IANS here.
Unlike in the previous years, the private jamboo savari (elephant procession) was held Friday within the precincts of the royal palace and ahead of the official victory procession across the city Saturday.
As part of the rituals, the royal sword was placed in a silver palanquin on a caparisoned jumbo that went around the sprawling palace along with 11 other elephants, passing by the aBanni' tree at the Bhuvaneshwari temple near the Jayamarthanada gate.
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"The private jamboo savari was held a day in advance of the aNada Habba' (state-government's sponsored fest) on the advice of the palace priests at the auspicious time (5:30pm) decided according to the constellation of stars," the official said.
Meanwhile, hectic preparations are underway for the Saturday's grand finale of the Dasara fest, which includes the avictory' procession of caparisoned elephants, camels and horses from the palace to the Bannimantap ground, 5km away across the city.
As head of the state government, chief minister Siddaramaiah will flag off the procession by offering flowers to the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari in the 750kg golden howdah (throne) mounted on elephant Arjuna at the main palace gate.The procession will be followed by 45 tableaux, cultural troupes, NCC cadets, personnel of KSRP, railway police, and home guards amid tight security.
The grand finale will culminate with a torchlight parade at the Bannimantap ground Saturday evening in the presence of state governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala and other dignitaries.
Thousands of people, including tourists from across the country and abroad have descended on the cultural capital of the state to witness the event, marking the triumph of good over evil on the 10th day of Dasara fest.