The 23-year-old Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar will be crowned today as the new Maharaja, becoming the head of the Wodiyar family. Yaduveer will ascend the Bhadrasana, a silver throne on May 28 between 9.30 am and 10.35 am at the Kalyana Mantapa of Amba Vilas Palace, Mysore.
The young man, who is a graduate from a University on the east coast of the United States, said that he was interested in promoting tourism in the area - and that he needed time to get used to the rituals. His uncle, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, took the last coronation in 1974. He died in 2013.
The news fascinates many Mysoreans despite they knew about Republic of India. They keep faith in new Maharaja and trust that the family will preserve the traditions of the family.
The Wadiyar dynasty started its rule of the kingdom of Mysore about 600 years ago. As the centuries roll down, the coronation of a new king has become a private affair in the Republic of India.
“Ascending the Bhadrasana is a pre-requisite for one to ascend the golden throne. He will ascend the golden throne only during Navarathri Utsav,” Maharani Pramoda Devi Wadiyar said. On the coronation, she said, “The ceremony will be carried out as per tradition as it was done 400 years ago, without any change. The dates of the ceremony were finalised only on May 20 followed by the consent of the gurus and family members. We had to rush as there were no good dates till November and since the ceremony was supposed to be held before Dasara”.
“We are yet to finalise the list of dignitaries. We have not printed invitations due to time constraints. Hence we have written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inviting him to participate in the event. Yaduveer’s fiance Trishika Kumari will also participate. The royal family members will follow the community dress code. Arrangements will be made for a live relay on a 20 feet LED screen, seating arrangements will be made for over 5000 people outside the Palace to witness the coronation ceremony on May 28. There will be a reception at 7 pm at the main Darbar hall for the general public and well wishers of the royal family. Since Yaduveer is expected to visit all 15 temples in the palace premises before sunset, he will move around in a car at 3 pm,” she said.
Dasara veteran Balarama will be participating in all Dasara rituals. “On May 27, various homas and rituals will be carried out, followed by an oil bath and kankana dharna and on the same day Paada pooja of Parakaala math guru Sir Abhinava Vaageesha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swami will be held. On May 28, the coronation ceremony will be held followed by a few homas including Lakshminarayana, Umamaheswari, Vani Brahma and Srirama Taraka” she said.
- Manohar
