Dasara: First time for farmer, Maharaja

MYSURU: At a simple, yet elegant event progressive Dalit farmer Puttaiah, 67, offered pooja at Chamundi Hills to mark the commencement of Dasara festivities in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his cabinet colleagues, and eminent litterateurs on Tuesday.

The state government invited Puttaiah of Mallara village in HD Kote taluk to inaugurate the festivities as part of its efforts to instill confidence among farmers particularly in the wake of a spate of suicides witnessed across the state this year.  

Dressed in a white shirt, dhoti, and shawl, Puttaiah arrived along with his wife Deveeramma and forty-odd members of his family including brothers Shivmallaiah and Mallaiah, sisters in law Kamalamma, tholasamma, nine daughters and 12 sons of their families and his neighbours in three buses.  are seeing Dasara, we have only seen it in Television. We are elated,” shared his brother’s daughter Nagarathna.

He was accorded a traditional welcome and was taken to the temple of Goddess Chamundeswari in a procession to offer pooja.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurates Raitha Dasara at Naganahalli in Mysuru on Tuesday   (Photo: KPN)
Thanking the government for inviting him to inaugurate the festivities, Puttaiah urged farmers to practice integrated farming and told them how he earned enough to increase his land hold from four acres to 40 acres without borrowing a rupee from any bank.

“Suicide is a wrong idea. What do you achieve by that? Who will take care of your families? The drought witnessed now is not as worst as we did in 1966 and 1976. Farmers are people with utmost self respect. Stop committing suicide. Let us sit discuss and find a way,” he said adding that the government should encourage integrated farming, use of solar powered pump sets and ensure remunerative prices for agricultural produce.

Extending his greetings, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: “I have prayed to Goddess Chamundeswari to instill confidence among farmers to stop committing suicide. Puttaiah is an ideal farmer. His experience is a message to farmers. Puttaiah has planned agriculture in a systematic, scientific manner and has adopted integrated farming and his family members are hard working. His children are all graduates. He has not borrowed any loans. Suicide is not the relief to your problems. We will respond to your problems. We cannot find solutions all at once. Let us discuss, and find solutions. Don’t lose hope at any cost,” he added.

Yaduveer holds first ‘khaas durbar’
The newly anointed Maharaja of erstwhile royal family of Mysuru, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, ascended the golden throne for the first time and symbolically held “Khaas durbar” at Ambavilas darbar hall as part of Dasara festivities on Tuesday.

The rituals, including a traditional oil bath and various poojas, commenced early in the morning at the palace. He was given the traditional welcome and subsequently visited various temples before ascending the throne just before noon. The royal anthem “Kaayo Sri Gowri” was also played when he ascended the throne. He also accepted nazars or gifts (a coin placed on a piece of cloth) symbolically.

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar dressed in traditional robes, on the golden throne during the Khas Durbar (Private Durbar) to mark the start of Navaratri festival, in Mysuru on Tuesday   (Photo: KPN)
All members of the royal family, numbering around 70, attended the durbar. They included his mother, Mrs Pramodadevi Wadiyar, biological parents of Mr Yaduveer, Mrs Leela Tripurasundaradevi and Mr Swarup Anand Gopal Raj Urs, the late Mr Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar’s sisters Kamakshidevi, Indrakshidevi and Vishalakshidevi, and members of Urs family.

Mr Yaduveer would hold “khaas durbar” every evening between 7.30 pm to 8 till October 22. During the festivities, Navadurgas would be worshipped with a Goddess each on all nine days. On October 22, Ayudha pooja would be performed at Kalyana mantapa of Mysuru Palace and “Vajra mushti Kalaga” would be held at Savar thotti.

During private Dasara, Mr Yaduveer would travel in a silver palanquin for shami pooja at Bhuvaneswari temple. And as many as 200 members are expected to participate in private Dasara.

Rajeshwari, the palace elephant getting ready for Dasara    (Photo: KPN)

“It was in 1969 Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar last went on Jumbo Savari procession, the Vijaya Yathre to celebrate their victory in wars symbolically.  After the privy purse was withdrawn, he restricted Dasara Vijaya Yaathre to Palace premises.  As long as he lived he held Dasara at Saje Darbar Hall. After the death of Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar in 1974, Sri Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar’s anointment ceremony and ascension of golden throne was held on the same day during the Dasara in the same year. It is he who started “Khaas durbar” at Ambavilas durbar hall,” sources in the palace told Deccan Chronicle.