Change in jamboo savari plans may affect Wadiyar's Dasara

Following the change in navaratri schedule with the district administration deciding to hold Jamboo Savari on October 22, Wadiyar’s, the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru have been caught offguard. The reason being, Wadiyar’s had also decided to observe jamboo savari on the same day (October 22).

Continuing with the tradition, the Wadiyar’s have been observing navaratri concluded by jamboo savari within the Palace precincts, especially after the privy purse was abolished in the year 1971. It was only during Dasara, the royal scion was adorning the majestic golden throne.

On the 10th day, the jamboo savari was taken out by the royal scion seated in the howdah amid restricted audience- members of royal families and invitees.

It was the same till 2013, when the royal scion Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar conducted Dasara for the last time. He died later same year on December 10. It was only after the culmination of Wadiyar’s Dasara,  ‘Janatha Dasara’, as the government sponsored event is known as was taken out.

The idol of goddess Chamundeshwari placed in a fabled golden howdah and mounted on an elephant was taking part in the procession from Palace to Bannimantap. The event is open to general public, invitees, VVIPs among others.

In the previous year, the members of erstwhile royal family decided to hold the gala event one day before the government-sponsored event. It had been decided to continue with the similar schedule for this year too, with muharat fixed for October 22 against the earlier schedule of government to conduct jamboo savari on October 23.

It also assumes significance this year, with the new scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar awaiting his maiden Dasara in a new role.

Lakshminarayan, Secretary to erstwhile royal family told Deccan Herald, “The change in schedule is sure to disturb the plans already made, as a dawn to dusk event is lined up for the day. The Ayudha Puja will start in the early hours and conclude with jamboo savari after offering puja to banni tree same evening’.

Moreover, as per the procedure, the offices of deputy commissioner also the executive officer of Mysore Palace Board and ACP (Palace) have been already submitted a list of events along with the invitees expected to attend the ceremony hosted by the erstwhile royal family, said Lakshminarayan.

Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, wife of royal scion late Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar who is currently out of town is seized of the matter, added Lakshminarayan, who said “at this time the matter needs to be resolved”.

According to sources, the issue is expected to be raised by Pramoda Devi, when a delegation of ministers and officials led by Revenue and District In-charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad is scheduled to call on Pramoda Devi on Sunday (October 4) to extend a traditional invitation to Dasara.