The 400-year-old Navaratri festival at Mysuru Palace burst into life on Monday, marked by a cascade of ancient rituals that continue to honor a deeply rooted tradition. This splendid heritage, a direct inheritance from the mighty Vijayanagara empire, was meticulously led by Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the royal scion and MP for Mysuru. A dedicated team of priests, intimately familiar with the palace’s intricate customs, oversaw every elaborate religious rite.
The day commenced remarkably early, between 5:30 a.m. and 5:45 a.m., with the sacred ritual of attaching the Simha (lion emblem) to the revered golden throne. This was swiftly followed by the ‘Kankana Dharana’ ceremony, performed at the Chamundeshwari Sannidhi within the Chamundi Thotti. During this significant event, the ceremonial thread was tied to Mr. Yaduveer. Later, his wife, Trishikha Kumari Wadiyar, participated in a similar ritual at Vani Vilas Devaramane, successfully concluding the essential preliminary customs.
Further ceremonies included a profound Kalasha Puja, invoking the divine blessings of various deities such as Lord Ganapati, Sri Chamundeshwari, Vishnu, and Shiva. Following these invocations, Mr. Yaduveer performed a special puja to the golden throne itself, before majestically ascending it between 12:42 p.m. and 12:58 p.m., in keeping with the time-honored palace tradition.
Blessings were also respectfully sought from the purohits (head priests), and sacred prasada (offerings) were received from esteemed religious institutions including Parakala Mutt, Sringeri Mutt, the Sri Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hills, the Srikanteshwara Temple in Nanjangud, and the Uttanahalli Sri Jwalamukhi Tripurasundari Temple, as well as other temples nestled within the palace fort.
The spiritual fervor continued with an Ekadasha Rudrabhisheka, the powerful recitation of the Devi Sapthashati Parayana dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari, a Sri Chakra Pooja, 64 Japa Parayana, Bhakshya Nivedana (food offerings), Mahamangalarati (grand aarti), and Veda Parayana (recitation of Vedic hymns).
Adding to the majestic spectacle, the royal elephant, royal horse, and royal cow were led in a solemn procession to the Kodi Someshwara temple, situated within the palace grounds. This grand entourage included palace staff adorned in magnificent traditional attire, a sight that truly captivated onlookers.
These meticulously observed rituals represent a living continuation of traditions richly documented in historical texts, including “Mysuru Dasara – The State Festival” published by the Department of Archaeology, Museums, and Heritage. While deeply influenced by the practices of the Vijayanagara empire, the Wadiyars have also woven in their own unique customs, offering a rare and profound insight into the spiritual depth and religious essence of Navaratri celebrations, whose origins stretch back through a venerable history.
