‘Deeply disturbing’: Mysuru erstwhile royal family member slams state govt over Dasara invitees

MYSURU: The matron of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, on Thursday released a statement related to the Chamundeshwari Temple and this year’s Dasara festival celebrations planned by state government.

In her statement, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar termed the Karnataka government’s planned celebration plans and recent politics over the issue as “deeply disturbing”. She further said that the dignitaries who are invited to inaugurate the Naada Habba (Dasara) have led to a difference in opinion and mentioned that it is unecessary to justify that Chamundeshwari Devi temple doesn’t belong to Hindu religion.

“The Karnataka government’s proposed Dasara celebrations this year, especially the politics surrounding the holy Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hills, are deeply disturbing. The selection of dignitaries invited to inaugurate this year’s Naada Habba (Janata Dasara) has led to differences of opinion, and it is unnecessary to justify this by saying that the Chamundeshwari Temple does not belong to the Hindu religion”, the statement read.

She noted that the Chamudeshwari temple has always been worshipped as per the Hindu traditions, and people from other religions have always been allowed to enter the temple and perform prayers. “Although the temple is worshipped according to Hindu religious customs, people of other religions have always been allowed to enter the temple and still do. If it was not a Hindu temple, it would never have been brought under the Muzrai Department”, she said in the statement.

Pramoda Devi Wadiyar said that it is the considered opinion of the erstwhile royal family that state government’s Dasara is a cultural celebration and government does not allow any religious section to celebrate it and such a festival cannot claim religious sanctity, tradition or heritage.

“It is our considered opinion that the government’s Dasara is a cultural celebration. The government does not allow any religious sect to celebrate it, and such a festival cannot claim religious sanctity, tradition or heritage. For this reason, the celebrations organised by the Karnataka government are cultural programmes and not religious traditions”, the statement said.

She noted that during Ashwayuja Sharanavaratri, devotees perform religious rituals related to Navratri according to old customs and traditions. “During the Ashwayuja Sharanavaratri, we privately perform religious rituals related to Navaratri according to the old customs and traditions, both inside and outside the palace, from Padya to Navami, and conclude with the Vijayadashami celebration. During these days, the Karnataka government cultural programmes are organised in front of the palace, so to avoid time overlap with our traditional celebrations, auspicious and suitable times are fixed for the inauguration of Sri Chamundeshwari and the grand procession of Sri Chamundeshwari”, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar added. (ANI)