Amid royal splendour, scion of Wodeyar royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wodeyar on Monday entered into a wedlock with Trishika Kumari Singh in a traditional ceremony at the iconic Amba Vilas Palace in Mysuru.
The wedding was officiated by a battery of priests in the presence of about 1,000 guests at the specially decorated 'Kalyana Mandapa' in the palace.
Trishika is the daughter of Harshvardhan Singh and Maheshri Kumari from the Dungarpur royal family in Rajasthan.
Marriage rituals have been underway since Saturday with the stamp of royal traditions. It began with Yaduveer performing 'pada puja' to 'Rajaguru' Bramhatantra Parakala mutt seer Abhinava Vageesha Brahmatantra Swatantra Swami.
24-year-old Boston-educated Yaduveer, the 27th 'King' of Wodeyar dynasty tied the nuptial knot with Trishika in the auspicious 'Karkataka lagna' on Monday morning.
Wedding rituals began with the groom performing 'Ganapati pooja' and 'Trishika Gowri pooja'. Later rituals like 'kanyadan', exchange of garlands, 'mangalya dharana' (tying of nuptial knot) and 'saptapadi' (seven steps around the holy fire) were performed, police officials said.
In a traditional ceremony on May 28 last year, Yaduveer was crowned as the titular head of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family.
Later during Dasara he had ascended the golden throne to preside over the 'khasa (private) durbar', which is reminiscent of the bygone era.
Colourful royal head gears, both Rajput and Mysuru style, added charm to the wedding. A lavish spread of south Indian delicacies was served to the invitees.
Top politicians, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet colleagues, diplomats from consulates of several countries, erstwhile royal families from across the country have been invited for the wedding and receptions to be held on June 28 and July 2 in Mysuru and Bengaluru respectively.
Yaduveer was engaged to Trishika much before his adoption as scion to royal family.
Pramoda Devi Wodeyar, widow of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, the last descendant of Wodeyar dynasty, formally adopted Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs in February last year, as the couple had no children.
After the adoption, he was rechristened as Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wodeyar.
Yaduveer has completed his BA in Economics and English from Boston University in the US and is the grandson of Princess Gayatri Devi, the eldest daughter of the last Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar.
The Wodeyar dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Mysuru from 1399 to 1947, the last king being Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, who ruled from 1940 until the Indian independence when he acceded his kingdom to the dominion of India. But he continued as the Maharaja until India became a Republic in 1950.
People in old Mysuru region of Karnataka still revere Wodeyar rulers for their contribution to society that includes construction of KRS dam across river Cauvery and establishment of industries and educational institutions.
All Photographs Courtesy: Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wodeyar/Facebook
