JOIN USScion of the Mysore royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar was the star attraction on the inaugural day of the Independence Day Flower Show at Lalbagh on Friday, which saw a huge turnout of people.
Yaduveer, accompanied by Rajamata Pramoda Devi, inaugurated the 10-day flower show organised by the Horticulture Department and the Mysore Horticulture Society, with the Royal Mysore Band playing in the background.
The Wadiyars released two books - Lalbagh Sasyasastra (a brochure in Kannada on Lalbagh) and a coffee table book on Lalbagh, created with 100 aerial shots of the botanical garden in the day, night, early morning and evening, using drones.
They planted the Eka Mukhi Rudraksha plant at the Bonsai Park in Lalbagh and were mesmerised by Raja Darshana - a special photo exhibition showcasing pictures of Mysore kings, courts and palace rituals. They even posed for photographs in front of the floral replica of Bangalore Palace. Yaduveer and Pramoda Devi did not mind the people frenzy and the young scion was more than willing to strike a pose for photographs.
The Wadiyars also took photographs with the statues of the past kings - Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Chamaraja Wadiyar, Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Jayachamaraja Wadiyar and Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, erected in the Glass House near the Bangalore Palace - the main attraction of the show.
Many schoolchildren were amused with the variety of flowers on display. Some even took autographs of Yaduveer.
People were seen making a beeline for various stalls set up en route to the Glass House.
Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the event, Yaduveer said Lalbagh was the pride of Bengaluru and played a vital role in mitigating climate change. “I am proud of being a Bengalurean and Mysurean. I am very proud of this heritage site and its great history. I thank people for their cooperation and love. I will come here again.”