Mysore/Mysuru: Hundreds of devotees thronged Mysore Palace on account of Rathasapthami this morning.
The Utsava Murtis (procession idols) of various Gods and Goddesses of the temples in Palace precincts were brought out and temporarily consecrated in front of the Palace facing North, in keeping with the customs and traditions in practice and to enable the devotees to have darshan from 7 am to 12 noon.
The floral bedecked Utsava Murtis included Trineshwara Swamy, Khille Venkataramana Swamy, Gayatri Devi, Varaha Swamy, Prasanna Krishna, Bhuvaneshwari among several other temples. It is only during Rathasapthami, Prakarotsava ritual is conducted after installing the Utsava Murtis at one place. While during the other days, the said ritual is conducted at respective temples.
The devotees were allowed from the four gates of the Palace — Varaha, Jaymarthanda, Balarama and Karikal Thotti Gate.
Later, the Utsava Murtis were taken back to respective temples.
Royal family members Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar too had darshan of Utsava Murtis, it is said.
50-ft Rangoli: A 50-foot wide colourful Rangoli drawn by artist Gita Srihari in front of the Palace was an added attraction. Gita Srihari, who draws such Rangolis every year on the occasion, has several prizes to her credit in Dasara Doll Show expo too.
“The Utsava Murtis (procession idols) of various Gods and Goddesses of the temples in Palace precincts were brought out and temporarily consecrated in front of the Palace facing North, in keeping with the customs and traditions in practice and to enable the devotees to have darshan from 7 am to 12 noon”
Rathasapthami, I remember in those days in 1950s, was a grand festival, when the devotees lined up the streets inside the Palace, to have darshan of the Utsava Murthis of the Palace temples carried on chariots-Rathas. Nothing like this stationary demonstration.