The mortal remains of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, scion of the Mysore royal family, were consigned to flames at Madhu Vana, the burial ground of the royal family, here on Wednesday.
Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar’s nephew, Chaduranga Kantaraj Urs, son of Wadiyar’s elder sister late Gayatridevi, lit the funeral pyre followed by other family members, as Vedic chants by purohits reverberated in the air.
Wadiyar was accorded State honours with the police firing volleys on three occasions as a guard of honour to pay tribute. The body was draped in Tricolour and clothes containing royal insignia were removed before the rituals. As is the tradition, Mr. Kantaraj Urs got his head tonsured to prepare himself to light the pyre and the body was placed on the pyre around 5.30 p.m.
The event was beamed on two LED screens located inside Madhu Vana and one on the road outside to enable the public to view the last rites. People had perched on top of the compound walls all around Madhu Vana to have a last glimpse of their beloved member of the royal family.
Among those who placed wreaths on the remains of Wadiyar included the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the former Chief Ministers B.S. Yeddyurappa and H.D. Kumaraswamy, and Ministers.
