Mysore: Despite the persistent buzz in Mysore that Mysore maharani Pramoda Devi was unwilling to open up the palace for Dasara celebrations, the spectacular jewel studded golden throne of the
Mysore palace is set to make its yearly appearance on Thursday when it will be taken out of the strongroom to be assembled in readiness for the fast approaching Mysore Dasara. Tourists will have delayed entry to the palace as elaborate rituals are scheduled to be conducted before the assembling of the throne at 9 am.
Palace board director K.M. Gayatri says the royal family has asked for tourists to be kept out of the palace till 1 pm to allow the conduct of the rituals.
Originally made of fig wood and decorated with ivory plaques, the golden throne has a main seat, a staircase and golden umbrella, all of which are attached with an interlocking mechanism and installed as one piece during the Navaratri festivities. A 24-verse Sanskrit sloka is engraved on the rim of the umbrella addressed to Krishnaraja Wadiyar III.
Legend has it that the throne belonged to the Pandavas of Mahabharata fame and was in Hastinapura till Kampilaraya brought it to Penugonda, in Andhra Pradesh where it was stored underground. It is said the Vijayanagar kings used the throne in Anegundi, for two centuries before the Governor of Vijayanagar brought it to Srirangapatna in early 17th century and gifted it to Raja Wadiyar.
In 1610, Raja Wadiyar, ascended the throne and inaugurated the Dasara festivites. Going by epigraphical evidence the throne was in the possession of Chikkadevaraja Wadiyar in 1699 and remained with the royal family till the time of Tipu Sultan.
