Mysuru Dasara has come under criticism from Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, who has alleged poor coordination among government departments, recurring disputes with police personnel and breaches of security arrangements during the festival. In a detailed press statement issued on Sunday, she urged the government to ensure that the procession on Vijayadashami is conducted with the dignity and grandeur associated with the presiding deity.
Pramoda Devi said coordination was lacking among palace police, district police, Karnataka State Reserve Police units, city and district armed reserve forces and personnel deployed from other departments. She described the recurring difficulties between the Jetti community and police personnel as unfortunate and called for senior police officers to issue appropriate instructions and take action regarding staff conduct.
She disputed the claim that the Vajramushti wrestling bout had been stopped for the first time in history. According to her statement, the event had not been held on different occasions, including during the 1970s and 1980s for various reasons and in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. She said the Wadiyar family had supported the bout for centuries and that an injury to one wrestler signifies the end of the contest rather than carrying any special meaning for the Vijayadashami celebrations.
Her statement also referred to difficulties faced by members of the Jetti community while entering the palace premises. Pramoda Devi said one group had entered while another was denied access at a particular gate by police personnel. She said the community and police should have coordinated better, but also alleged that the conduct of personnel at the gate had contributed to the confusion.
She criticised police personnel and their family members for taking selfies and photographs near the golden howdah despite security restrictions. She said this showed a lack of discipline and could result in a failure to perform their duties. The golden howdah, she stated, was provided at the request of the police commissioner after assurances that all precautions would be taken to protect it.
Pramoda Devi further alleged that unauthorised personnel from different government departments were present near the howdah despite official passes being restricted to designated individuals. She said palace representatives holding official duty passes were treated improperly and pushed by police personnel and the deputy commissioner of police responsible for law and order while attempting to retrieve the howdah safely. She also objected to police vehicles being parked in the private palace parking area reserved for the royal family and guests, and said indiscriminately placed barricades were obstructing religious rituals.
The statement said the repeated incidents had created a situation in which she might have to reconsider the decision to conduct the Chamundeshwari procession on Vijayadashami. Pramoda Devi said the religious rituals of the Navaratri celebrations were central to the palace programme, while the government’s Dasara celebrations did not have the same religious connection.
She proposed that government cultural programmes continue from the first to the seventh day, while the palace premises remain open on Ayudha Puja and Vijayadashami so that the royal family can conduct its rituals without external interference. She also suggested that the government hold the Chamundeshwari golden howdah procession from the palace to Bannimantap on the day of the chariot festival at Chamundi Hill, at a suitable time in the evening.
Pramoda Devi also said that, for the first time in 45 years, the identity of the elephant selected to carry the golden howdah had not been shared with the palace until shortly before the event. She said she had to ask the deputy conservator of forests about the elephant five days before the programme. She urged the government to consider and evaluate her suggestions in the interests of the public and the smooth conduct of both the palace rituals and the state-organised Dasara programmes.
