Tradition remains, grandeur misses regal touch in Mysuru

Tradition was the hallmark during the coronation ceremony of Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar. But, in terms of grandeur, it was no match to the previous anointment ceremonies of the erstwhile royal family.

“The grandeur associated with Srikantadatta Wadiyar’s anointment ceremony cannot be matched with that of today’s,” claimed Mahalingappa, a caretaker of Khas Brindavan at Manuvana, the exclusive cremation ground of the Wadiyars on Mysuru-Nanjangud road on the outskirts of the city.

 Mahalingappa could not recall the details associated with Jayachamaraja Wadiyar’s coronation in 1940, as he was a five-year-old boy then. Jayachamaraja Wadiyar was the 25th and last Maharaja of the erstwhile princely state of Mysuru.

 Mahalingappa told Deccan Herald, “I am proud to have witnessed the coronation ceremony of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, son of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, in the year 1974.”

Kumar Swamy, a priest who regularly attends the ceremonies in the Palace, says, “Though I was not a witness to Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar’s coronation, it was a conglomeration of highly reputed scholars.” It was also a deviation from the tradition as the Forest department declined to lend elephant Balarama to perform the role of ‘Pattada Aane’ as requested by the erstwhile royal family.

The Forest department cited a government order issued in 2002, restricting the use of elephants for ceremonies like Dasara, Republic Day and other government functions.

Following this, domesticated elephants belonging to the erstwhile royal family filled the gap by taking part in a procession organised on Wednesday, the beginning of the two-day rituals associated with the coronation ceremony.