Royal family performs 'Shammi' pooja

Mysore, Oct 21 (UNI) The ten-day Mysore Dussehra festivities by the Mysore royal family came to an end today with 'Shammi Pooja' at the Bhuvenswari temple in the Palace courtyard here.

The royal affair, though strictly private, was open for a selected few and concluded with a royal procession.

The scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, attired in royal robes, sat on a silver cart drawn by caparisoned bulls to offer prayers at the temple in the morning, marking the end of the celebrations.

In the procession with elephants and horses, traditional weapons were exhibited. Mr Wadiyar after watching the famed 'varja musti kalaga', a traditional wrestling form and performing 'pooja' at the 'Shammi' tree, returned to the palace to worship family diety Goddess Chamundeswari.

UNI