Nada Habba is cultural, Chamundeshwari temple is Hindu: Pramoda Devi

The political rift over inauguration of Mysuru Dasara, and the recent statements of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar that “Chamundi Hills is not the property of Hindus alone”, has stirred a fresh controversy with Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile royal family expressing “deep distress” over the developments.

While Ms. Wadiyar has not objected to the selection of Booker Prize awardee Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the Dasara, she has also firmly stated that the temple follows Hindu traditions and rituals and affirmed its Hindu character while rejecting the statement of Mr. Shivakumar.

Ms. Wadiyar, who is the custodian of the palace traditions, said in a statement that differences of opinion have arisen regarding the choice of dignitaries invited for the inauguration of this year’s Nada Habba (People’s Dasara).

“To justify this, statements such as ‘the Chamundeshwari Temple does not belong to Hinduism’ are unnecessary. Although worship in the temple is conducted according to Hindu religious practices, people of other faiths have had the opportunity to enter the temple, and they continue to have it even now. If it were not a Hindu temple, it would never have been brought under the Muzrai Department,” said Ms.Wadiyar.

Ms. Wadiyar’s statement, however, sought to differentiate between the State government’s Dasara, which she said, is a cultural celebration and the one observed by the royal family. ‘’Government cannot conduct festivals belonging to any religious sect, and such a festival cannot acquire religious sanctity, tradition, or heritage. For this reason, the celebrations organised by the Karnataka Government are cultural programmes and not religious traditions’’, she added.

‘’During Ashwayuja Sharannavarathri, we privately conduct Navaratri-related religious rituals in accordance with old practices and traditions, inside and outside the palace, from Padya till Navami as per scriptures, and complete them with the celebration of Vijayadashami,” said Ms. Wadiyar underlining the religious character and traditions followed by the erstwhile royal family.

 Ms. Wadiyar stated that the Karnataka government organises cultural programmes in front of the Mysuru palace, and a suitable timing is fixed for the inauguration of the grand procession of Sri Chamundeshwari to avoid overlapping of schedule with traditional rituals.

Pramoda Devi concluded expressing hope that “with divine blessings”, the present misunderstandings and disputes surrounding the festivities would soon give way to consensus and harmony.

Mysuru Dasara will be inaugurated on September 22 and will conclude with the Vijayadashmi procession on October 2.