Two members of Mysuru royal family die on final day of Dasara festivities

MYSURU: The Mysuru royal family suffered a double blow Friday marring Dasara festivities when Putta Chikkammani (98), mother of Rajamata Pramoda Devi, and Vishalakshi Devi, sister of late Maharaja Srikantadatta Wadiyar, died in hospital.

The royal family has announced postponing rituals associated with the Dasara festival to October 22, Raja Chandra, brother-in-law of the late Maharaja, said.

He said Pramoda Devis mother died in the morning while sister-in-law Princess Vishalakshi Devi, youngest daughter of late Maharaja of Mysuru Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, died in the evening.

He said Chikkammani died in a private hospital here due to age related complications.

Raja Chandra said being in a state of impurity following the death, the royal family, including the titular Maharaja Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar, could not take part in rituals like special prayers to weapons, welcoming the entry of elephant carrying howdah and Uttara Pooja.

By evening, Vishalakshi Devi died in a private hospital in Bengaluru, he said, adding, she was 55.

In a Facebook post, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar said his aunt, Vishalakshi Devi, was a great animal lover.

“Like her father, she devoted much of her life to preservation of wildlife.

Her contribution to this field was immense, having helped not only raise, but also restore several leopards back to their wild habitat. She also raised several elephants that are now at various elephant camps in the forest. My best memories of our jungles are of time spent with her. My favourite memories are listening to her wildlife stories by fireside in Bandipur. Her passing has left a void in our lives.