By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana The upanayana (thread ceremony) of Prince Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar was performed on Friday, 23 May 1930 at Kalyana Mantapa of the Palace. In this photograph, the young Prince is seated at the centre holding a twig of palasha tree, facing the square homa-kunda. Notice the kankana tied on his…
Vintage Vignettes … from a Princely State
April 13, 2026By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana The dowager Maharani H.H. Vani Vilasa Sannidhana Kempananjammanni Devi (4 July 1866 – 7 July 1934) was perhaps among the last important bride who came from Kalale village near Nanjangud. Several of the earlier Wadiyar rulers chose their brides from this particular village which normally had a sizeable…
Vintage Vignettes … from a Princely State
April 6, 2026By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana This sepia toned photograph is the official coronation portrait of H.H. Krishnaraja Wadiyar Bahadur IV taken on Saturday, 2nd February 1895. Photographed by M. Buranudin R.P. (Royal Photographer?) The photographer has aesthetically arranged Victorian furniture, a metallic European table-clock, two leather-bound books along with a dog (probably a…
Vintage Vignettes… from a Princely State
March 23, 2026By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana Majority of the photographs of H.H. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV shot at official functions across Mysore State (outside the Palace premises) shows the Maharaja dressed in white trousers, a comfortable close-collar coat and a ready-to-wear turban. However, at celebrations and events within the Palace, he is seen in…
Vintage Vignettes … from a Princely State
March 16, 2026By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana Raja Ravi Varma painted the official wedding portrait of the royal couple H.H. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar Bahadur IV and H.H. Maharani Sri Pratapa Kumari Lakshmi Vilasa Sannidhana; the oil on canvas portrait is in the collection of Mysore Royal family. Featured alongside is the 61×76 cms sized chromolithograph,…
Vintage Vignettes … from a Princely State
March 9, 2026By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana This oval vignette is perhaps from the second decade of 20th century. Dressed in shimmering silks, adorned with gem-studded jewellery and sporting stylishly tied Mysuru turbans, the Maharaja H.H. Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV Bahadur and the Yuvaraja H.H. Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar Bahadur wait in front of the arches leading…
Vintage Vignettes … from a Princely State
March 2, 2026By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana This official group photograph of the smartly dressed Ursu noblemen in traditional court attire was taken in the forecourt of the Mysore Palace to celebrate the conferral of the GCSI honours on the then Maharaja of Mysore, H.H. Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar Bahadur, who is seen seated at the centre…
Vintage Vignettes from a… Princely State
February 23, 2026By R.G. Singh, Secretary, Ramsons Kala Pratishtana This hand-painted photo-montage was perhaps intended to be a souvenir to be gifted to important citizens of Mysore. Six individual photographs have been placed within leaves akin to the spades pattern used in playing cards. The central oval photograph depicts the 28th September 1895 Dasara Durbar of the…
‘Doll makers badly hurt due to high tariffs’
October 28, 2025Prize-winners of Dasara Doll Show-2025 Mysore/Mysuru: “Due to levy of 100 percent tariffs on export parcels valued at over Rs. 20,000, we are unable to export our unique Indian dolls to western countries such as America and Canada,” said R.G. Singh of Ramsons Bombe Mane. He was speaking at the Dasara Doll Show-2025 prize distribution…
‘Mysuru, Bengaluru, Hyderabad shine as Deccan’s cultural jewels’
July 7, 2025Mysore/Mysuru: The rich artistic legacy of Mysuru, the historic charm of Bengaluru’s Lalbagh Gardens and the vibrant cultural history of Hyderabad took centre stage during a panel discussion titled ‘The Jewel Cities of Deccan: Their Sparkling Legacies of Art, Music and History,’ held on the second day of the 9th Mysuru Literature Festival at Hotel…















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