Ayudha Puja performed at Mysuru Palace

Mysuru: Ayudha Puja, also called ‘Astra Puja’ or ‘worship of weapons’ was celebrated at Mysuru Palace on Monday.

Ayudha puja was performed by Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of Mysuru royal family, to the royal armoury in the Palace with full traditional fervour and grandeur.

Vijayadashami, marking the culmination of the 10-day Dasara festival, will be celebrated tomorrow where the grand procession and the ceremonial Torchlight Parade will be held.

The royal palace and several parts of Mysuru city were illuminated with thousands of bulbs glowing all through the festival.

The celebrations culminate with the ‘Jumbo Sawari’ or procession of well-decorated elephants carrying the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed in a golden Howdah on Vijayadashmi or the 10th day of the festival, along with the display of various tableaux and cultural groups.

In the Mysuru palace, the Navaratri celebrations kicked off on September 29 with Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of Mysuru royal family, dressed in grand attire, conducting Khasagi durbar (private durbar) by ascending the golden throne, amid chanting Vedic hymns.

Dasara was celebrated by the rulers of the Vijayanagar empire and the tradition was inherited by the Wadiyars.

Festivities were first started in Mysuru by the Wadiyar King, Raja Wadiyar I in the year 1610.