Mysuru: Thousands of people gathered atop the Chamundi Hill from as early as 5 in the morning today to participate in the grand Chamundeshwari Rathotsava (Car Festival). A yearly ritual, the Rathotsava is held after the completion of the ten-day Dasara festival.

The Rathotsava began at 7.20 am with the arrival of Rajamata Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and her son, the titular head of the Wadiyar dynasty, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar. They participated in the Prakarotsava, Mantapotsava and other rituals.

Later, at 8.40 am, during Abhigin Lagna, the Rathotsava began with Yaduveer, clad in the traditional white-closed-collar long coat, matching pajamas,  silk-gold-threaded peta adorning his head and wearing dark glasses, pulled the Ratha (Chariot)  after offering puja to the  beautifully decorated Utsava Moorthi (Chamundeshwari idol).

MLA G.T. Devegowda and Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep were also present. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar sat opposite the temple watching the proceedings.

Assistants from the Mysore Palace were holding the Chathri (umbrella) and Chamara, which is all a part of the 600-year-old tradition. The Police Band and the Mangala Vadya was played and the Ratha made its way around the temple being pulled by many devotees who had gathered.

The personnel from the Reserve Police fired cannons that was carried on a small trolley, for about 12 times in front of the Ratha.

The Chamundeshwari Rathotsava that is held every year is the time when people make special vows. The newly-married couples, childless couples and unmarried men and women all gather in large numbers and shower flower petals, offer fruits, puffed rice and flowers. Even as they threw the flowers, the idol was protected by a screen made of jute, which stopped the offerings from hitting the idol covered with gold ornaments, thus preventing any damage to the deity.

The procession ended at 9.25 am. The devotees came in cars, on scooters, parked their vehicles near Devikere, and walked for nearly a kilometre to reach the temple. Many came on foot climbing the thousand steps. There were the usual short-eats like chakkuli, kodbale, nippittu sold by women who said that every year they come and sell these items, which the people enjoy eating.

Pramoda Devi decries intrusion of TV

Pramoda Devi Wadiyar,  speaking to the media said, “I am very happy to participate in the Chamundeshwari Rathotsava. This is a tradition that the royal family has kept alive and of which I have been a part of since more than 40 years. We offer prayers for good rain, crops and the welfare of farmers and the people of the State.”

However, she was very critical of the TV channels focusing on the “Seemanta” of her daughter-in-law Trishikha Kumari Wadiyar who is pregnant. “This is a very private affair of the family and it is wrong on the part of TV channels to telecast, and generate lot of publicity for what is completely in the private domain of the royal family,” she said.