Lakhs of tourists visit the city every year to witness the Navaratri festivities, but not many are aware that the royal family celebrates four Navarathri festivals every year.
During ‘Sharan Navaratri’, celebrated in October, the public are allowed to get a glimpse of the private durbar, ‘Ayudhapuja’ and ‘Saraswathipuja’.
The Wadiyars, who still follow the legacy and rituals of the Vijayanagar kingdom, hold ‘Chitra’ or ‘Vasantha Navaratri’ during April, starting on the day of Ugadi festival.
‘Greesma’ or ‘Aashada Navaratri’ is held in July, while ‘Maga Navaratri’ is celebrated during December-January.
All the three festivities are confined to the royal family. However, the scion of the royal family, Srikantadutta Narashimraja Wadiyar, doesn’t ascend the Golden Throne or take out a Vijayadashmi procession during these celebrations.
But more than 15 Palace priests conduct Chamundeshwari pooja during all the three other celebrations, under the supervision of Maharani Pramodha Devi Wadiyar.
Volunteers from around 30 families from Gejjagalli and Kesare help the royal family in holding the rituals. They are given uniforms and are assigned duties like taking out the royal elephant procession, looking after the royal horse, cow and camel carrying the royal insignia and beating drums.
The volunteers are paid an honorarium as a token of appreciation.
The royal family also holds monthly Ganapathi poojas and other homa inside the Palace. They also offer Baliendra pooja during Diwali.
Rs 10 Lakh Spent During Dasara
According to sources, the royal family spends around `10 lakh on Dasara festivities every year and over Rs 25 lakh on holding rituals and poojas around the year.