People throng Palace to watch royal procession

New Wadiyar successor Yaduveer taken out on a silver chariot

‘Yaduveer Sri Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar Ki Jai...’, ‘Yaduveer ki jai...’
Such slogans were rented in the air soon after Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the adopted son of Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, began his procession in the historical silver chariot from the Aane Bagilu of the Amba Vilas Palace, on Monday evening

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Though the procession was delayed by over an hour, people waited to catch a glimpse of the new successor of the Wadiyars. Yaduveer, clad in pink shervani and a traditional headgear, boarded the flower bedecked chariot, as the people erupted in joy, blowing whistles and raising slogans in his favour.

While a pair of caparisoned palace elephants — Sita and Ruby — camels and cows led the chariot as per the tradition, members of the erstwhile royal family escorted the chariot in separate cars. The illuminated Mysore Palace and the Police Band, provided the perfect setting, making for a panoramic view for the visitors.

Yaduveer acknowledged the respect of the people teeming around the chariot with folded hands. The chariot carrying Yaduveer pulled by a pair of oxen, exited the Palace from Balarama Gate and went around the Chamarajendra Wadiyar Circle outside the gate, before entering the Palace through the same gate. Earlier, he received the arathi at Kote Anjaneya Swamy Temple.

After entering the Palace gate, the chariot went near 10 to 12 temples inside the palace — Kodi Someshwara Swamy, Kalabhairaveshwara Swamy, Trinayaneshwara Swamy, Shweta Varahaswamy to name a few. 

Earlier, Yaduveer arrived for a reception at the public durbar hall on the first floor of the Palace, facing Jayamarthanda Gate at 7.45 pm against the scheduled of 6.30 pm. It was also the first such public durbar of the erstwhile royals, after the 25th and last maharaja of Mysore Jayachamaraja Wadiyar conducted the durbar during Dasara.

Yaduveer sat on the silver peeta (chair), engraved with gandabherunda, the royal emblem of the Wadiyars, at the head rest. He received ‘maryade’ (respect) from the arasu clan for a while. He began his procession at 8.10 pm in the chariot that lasted over one hour. As there was no restriction on the public for entry during the procession, people — irrespective of locals and tourists, young and old — thronged the Palace.

The pair of oxen belonged to Shankar Chandagala from N R Mohalla, in the city. Whenever there is a ceremony in the Palace, the oxen belonging to Shankar is summoned for duty.