The Mysore Wodeyars carried over the tradition of Vijayanagara rulers, in celebrating Dasara as a state festival. The Mysore dynasty which was founded in 1399 by Yaduraya and Krishna at Hadinaru in Mysore district, which witnessed an era of pomp and glory under a band of twenty five generations of rulers like Raja Wodeyar (1578-1617), Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar (1673-1704), Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (1799-1868), Chamaraja Wodeyar X (1868 – 1894), Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV (1902 – 1940) and the last king Jayachamaraja Wodeyar(1940 – 1947).

Throne:

In 1610 , the glory of Dasara reached its pinnacle when Raja Wodeyar ascended the historic golden throne of Vijayanagar kingdom and inaugurated the Dasara festivities at Srirangapatna. During the early part of the 17th century, it was carried away to Srirangapattana by Srirangaraya, who was the vijayanagar chief at Srirangapatna. After the fall of Tipu sultan and the restoration of Mysore to Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in 1799, the throne was shifted to Mysore.

A sanskrit work 'Devatanama Kusuma Manjari' composed by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in 1859, gives a description of the throne. It consists of the main seat in the shape of a tortoise-Kurmasana, a stair-case embellished with female figures, and the golden umbrella studded with precious stones and pearls, the four sides of the throne are decorated with vyalis and creepers. A benedictory sanskrit verse engraved on the umbrella, mentions Krishnaraja Wodeyar III as the 'Lord of the Karnataka Ratna Simhasana'. The throne is taken out once a year during Dasara and placed in the Amba Vilas Palace for public view.

Dasara during the time of Wodeyars

English Durbar: A new dimension was added to the Dasara when Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III began to rule from Mysore and the celebration started from the old Mysore Palace. There was a one day English Durbar specially reserved for the Europeans from 1814.

Past memories linger on...

Ceremonials: The Mysore Palace build in an Indo-Saracenic architecture style in 1912, has always been a venue of the Dasara festival and has served as a fine backdrop. During the time of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV (1902-1940), it became a great spectacle and attracted a large number of Indian and European visitors. The religious functions were limited to relatives and high rank officials where as the evening durbar meant for the invitees. The invitees had to wear special dress of white trousers, black long coat, uttariya, and a laced turban to attend the glittering Maharaja's durbar held in the palace durbar hall. There were music programmes of veteran musicians like Veene Seshanna, Bidaram Krishnappa, dance, dramas, sports, wrestling and many such events ending with dinners at the Government House and Lalitha Mahal. Hindustani musicians like Barkatulla Khan, Gohar Jan, and Fiaz Khan were specially invited during Dasara and patronised by the Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, who presented Khillats and rewards to them.

On the tenth day, the Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV seated in golden howdah on a caparisoned elephant along with his younger brother Yuvaraja Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wodeyar and nephew Jayachamaraja Wodeyar went on procession to Bannimantap followed by the military troops, superbly conducted Palace band, volga sets, palace honours, the Royal Insignia of the Gandabherunda order, the state sword, the state elephant, the state horse, the state cow accompanied by the Panchakalasha elephant chariot, camel and gun carriages proceeded to the Bannimantap and after worshiping the Banni tree returned to the palace.

The firing of 21 gun salutes marked the beginning and the end of the Dasara procession. At the Bannimantap, there were entertainment programmes like hunting of tiger, bear and other animals brought in captivity from the forest during the period of Raja Wodeyar, which was later substituted by torch light parade, equestrian events, fire words, etc.

As the natives observed it with religious enthusiasm amazingly viewing the products at the stalls at the Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition, the Europeans attended the English Durbar specially meant for the British Resident and other Europeans, enjoyed it with fun, inviting their English guests to Mysore, witnessing horse races, polos, ball, and oriental dances, relishing both the Indian and European cuisines at the dinner parties hosted by the Maharaja at Lalitha Mahal and the Government Guest House. Prominent among the Indian guests of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV for Dasara were poet Rabindranath Tagore and the industrialist Dorabji Tata.

The ceremonial tradition of Dasara Procession was continued by the last Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wodeyar. The Mysore Dasara, which started as a religious ceremony during the days of the Maharajas underwent remarkable changes and finally evolved as a socio-cultural festival of the people of Karnataka inculcating a spirit of unity and strength for achieving progress in a democratic set-up.

The origin of Dasara goes way back to the Vijayanagar dynasty in 15th Century. The Wodeyars of Mysore continued this colourful & religious celebration under the leadership of Raja Wodeyar in the year 1610. Dasara is also known as the 'Navarathri', where nine days of worship & celebration culminate on the 10th day, known as 'Vijaydashami'. This has been declared as ‘Naada Habba’ or the State Festival.

Legend has it that the resident demon of Mysore, known as 'Mahishasura' was slain by the goddess in the avatar of Chamundeshwari. (Incidentally the name Mysore is derived from this demon 'Mahishasura')  Therefore 'Vijaydashami' is celebrated symbolically as the victory of good over evil.

During Dasara, the brightly illuminated Mysore Palace and the entire city is a sight to behold. In September 1805, the wodeyars started holding a special durbar ('Royal Assembly', similar to that of the Mughal emperors) for members of the royal family, Europeans, palace officials, royal priests and important citizens, commoners also participated in the durbar. The festival has become a tradition of the royal household and reached its zenith during the rule of Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar (1902-1940).

Now the ceremonies are largely a private affair of the royal family, witnessed by a select audience. Clad in royal attire and traditional headgear, His Highness Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, the scion of the royal family, ascends the seven steps to the golden throne - which is assembled according to religious instructions - at a preordained hour and receives obeisance from the public. Court musicians then play the signature tune composed to commemorate the assumption of power by the Wodeyars.  

The venue for most of the festivities of the Mysore Dasara always has been the Amba Vilas Palace, which is also known as the Diwan-e-Khas.

On the first day, the King, after a ceremonial bath, worships the family deity in the palace and enters the durbar to the accompaniment of sacred chants and music. He worships the navagrahas (nine sacred planets) and the sacred `kalasa',then ascends the throne at an auspicious moment.  The palace lights are lit and a 21-gun salute is given as the royal insignia and sword are presented to him.

According to legend, Dharmaraja, the Pandava King, used the Mysore Royal throne, which is made of gold. Kampilaraya brought it from Hastinapura to Penugonda, where it lay buried. It was rediscovered by Vidyaranya, the royal priest of the Vijayanagar Empire and subsequently presented to Raja Wodeyar in 1609. Another legend is that the Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb gifted the throne to Chikkadevaraja Wodeyar in 1700. The third legend says that it belonged to the mythological King Vikramaditya.

The king sits on this throne and receives royal guests. He accepts offerings from various temples and religious centers, which are blessed by royal priests chanting vedic verses and sprinkling holy water. In the olden days vassals, dewans, army chiefs and other royal staff would line up to offer their respects to the throne. An ensemble of musical instruments accompanied by dance begins and the blowing of conches and trumpets announces the commencement of a parade of uniformed soldiers.

The decorated royal elephant arrives and showers rose petals on the assembled guests. The royal horse, equally well decorated, bends in salutation to the throne. While the assembly leaves the court after paying respects to the king, the queen and other royal ladies come to pay obeisance to the king. The queen-mother and senior ladies bless him . The king leaves the durbar hall after praying to the Goddess once again and partakes lunch with the royal guests.

This ceremony is repeated on all the nine days during Navarathri, accompanied by acrobatic feats, wrestling bouts by champion wrestlers, fireworks display and other forms of entertainment, which are open to all.

The king worships the Goddess Saraswathi on the seventh day and Mahisasuramardini on the eighth. On Mahanavami, the royal sword is Worshipped ceremoniously and all the weapons are taken out in a  procession comprising  elephants, horses, camels and the royal retinue.

Navaratri culminates in Grand Vijayadasami celebrations, also known as Jamboo Savari. The grandeur and magnificence of this event has popularized the Mysore Dasara world over.  The earlier practice was that the King himself would lead the procession on the royal elephant back. The King would be seated upon this decorated golden howdah weighing over 750 kgs. But  now the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari is placed in the golden howdah and taken in a procession

Colourful tableaux, folk dancers, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and adjourns at Bannimantap where the banni tree (Prosopis spicigera) is worshipped. According to a legend of the Mahabharata, banni tree was used by the Pandavas to hide their arms during their one-year period of Ajnatavasa (living life incognito). Before undertaking any warfare, the kings traditionally worshipped this tree to help them emerge victorious in the war. The Dasara festivities culminate on the night of Vijayadasami with an event held on a grand note at Bannimantap called as Panjina Kavayathu (torch-light parade). A much awaited finale to Dasara, this event attracts thousands of visitors. Exotic fire works and daredevil stunts on motorcycles by a team of the Indian army add to the excitement.