The usually bustling Krishnarajendra Market, or City market as it is known, was deserted on Wednesday. All shops had downed their shutters, even as small vendors were missing.
The 1,600 traders and vendors had voluntarily decided not to conduct business between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. as a mark of respect to the scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, who died on Tuesday.
G.M. Divakar, president of the Bangalore Flower Merchants’ Association, told The Hindu that members of the 12 different traders’ and vendors’ associations met and took the decision soon after news of the death came out.
He added that this is the first time the market remained closed for an entire day. “The market was constructed in 1931 by the then maharaja of Mysore. It is because of the Wadiyars that nearly four generations of traders have eked out a livelihood at the market. The city owes a lot to the Mysore maharajas and we wanted to pay our respects to the departed soul,” he said.
A condolence meeting was also held at the market, which was attended by Mayor B.S. Sathyanarayana and local councillor G.A. Ashwath.
Out of boundsPosters of Wadiyar were put up on the walls around the Bangalore Palace Grounds on Wednesday. All gates were shut.
A security guard posted at one of the gates told The Hindu on condition of anonymity that the grounds would be closed to the public for the next four days. Access would be granted only to those going to the garages and school within the grounds.
“We do not know what will happen after four days. Most of the palace staff have gone to Mysore to pay their respects. We have been told that it all now depends on what the family decides,” he added.