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Mysore palace row resolved in time for Navratri festivities

The world-famous Dassera festivities in Mysore began today after a row between the royal family and the Karnataka government was settled yesterday.

While the scion of the royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, used the golden throne to perform the Navratri puja at the Mysore palace early today, famed Hindustani vocalist Gangubai Hangal offered worship to Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysore, atop Chamundi Hills. She also rendered a bhajan in praise of Goddess Durga to mark the inauguration of the festivities.

The controversy, which raged for several days after the Karnataka assembly passed a bill that allows the government to take over the palace and all its regalia, ended when the government accepted Wodeyar's condition to insure the 804 kg golden howdah which is traditionally used for the jamboo savari (elephant ride) during the procession on Vijayadashami Day.

The state government could not succeed in its efforts to effect the takeover before commencement of the festivities as a copy of the Presidential assent to the bill has not reached it yet.

Wodeyar, who moved the Karnataka high court against the takeover, had earlier declined to release the golden howdah unless the state government gave him the royal throne for offering puja. But the government gave a written undertaking that it would insure the howdah for the value of gold at current market prices. Following this, Wodeyar agreed to release the throne.

Wodeyar had earlier threatened the government with "dire consequences" if it broke open the lock of the room in which the golden howdah was kept.

In the absence of Chief Minister Jayadevappa Patel, Deputy Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah presided over the inauguration of the festival. Several ministers, including Forest Minister D Manjunath and Kannada and Culture Minister Leeladevi R Prasad, attended the function.

The celebrations, which symbolise the victory of good over evil, have been in vogue for more than four centuries. The tradition is a legacy of the emperors of the Vijayanagar dynasty and has been scrupulously followed by the Mysore royal family.

UNI

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