Marking the 10th day of the famous Dasara fest, Mysuru's titular Maharaja Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wodiyar on Monday worshipped the vintage arms and treasures of the royal family amid chanting of Vedic hymns, said a palace official."He performed the rituals to worship the royal sword and other weapons in the Amba Vilas Palace to mark 'Ayudha pooja'," palace administrator Lakshminarayana told reporters here in Karnataka's cultural capital, about 150 km from Bengaluru.Various types of weapons, including arms and artillery guns, were brought out of the royal armoury, placed in a golden palanquin and carried around the palace for viewing by the royal family and the public.Attired in heavy traditional robes and sporting the royal headgear, the 23-year-old titular ruler began the day with an oil bath and offered floral prayers to the family deities in the temples in the palace precincts."He also worshipped the palace elephants, horses and cattle to mark the occasion.
A fleet of flower-decked old and new cars were driven slowly on the palace front where the maharaja made floral offerings," Lakshminaraya said.Queen mother Pramoda Devi, who adopted Yaduveer, Maharani Trishkiha Kumari Wodiyar and their family members watched the colourful proceedings from the palace balcony and through its windows.Ascending the golden throne, he also greeted the public and blessed his wife in the durbar hall, re-enacting the royal practice of the Wodiyar dynasty over the past seven centuries, the official said.Reviving fond memories of the bygone era, the city of palaces has been decked up for the grand finale on Tuesday when the famed 'jamboo savari' (procession of caparisoned elephants), horse-drawn carriages and tableaux across the city's main thoroughfare will mark the triumph of good over evil on Vijayadashmi, culminating with a torchlight parade at the Bannimantap grounds.
Though flow of tourists, pilgrims and visitors from across the country and the world over was affected last month due to protests over the Cauvery river water dispute with the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, lifting of bans, normalcy and inter-state vehicular traffic's resumption have helped to draw them in droves since the fest began on October 1.With peace prevailing and law and order under control, the authorities have re-opened the Brindavan Gardens on the city's outskirts for public viewing, especially its colourful fountains and flora."We have stepped up security and enhanced vigil across the city with additional deployment of our forces to prevent any untoward incident, mischief or stampede at the victory procession on Tuesday," said Mysuru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand.