21-gun salute! Cannon firing practice to begin at Mysore Palace
2 min read
Mysuru: Cannon firing practice will begin at Mysore Palace premises, with the traditional puja performed at the elephant gate.
On Thursday, Police Commissioner Seema Latkar performed a traditional puja to the cannons of Wadiyar era, placed at the courtyard of Mysore Palace. These cannons are used during the grand Vijayadashami procession and Torchlight Parade on October 12, where a 21-gun salute is offered to the Goddess Chamundeshwari and the Governor at Bannimantap, as a mark of honour respectively.
Seven cannons are fired in three rounds, totaling 21 shots as a mark of the highest respect to the presiding deity and the Governor.
The 21-gun salute is conducted along with the rendition of national anthem, lasting a total of 52 seconds. This tradition which was in practice during the reign of Wadiyars, is still practiced, reliving the glory of bygone princely era.
The City Armed Reserve (CAR) Police team is responsible for the cannon firing each year. They undergo specialised training at the parking lot of the Palace next to Kote Maramma tenple within the fort area, which includes initial dry runs followed by three rounds of practice with live gunpowder. The training takes place in front of elephants and mounted police horses to ensure that the animals are acclimatised with the huge sound to complete the preparation for the D-day.
The priest Prahlad Rao also performed a puja to all seven cannons, in the presence of Commissioner Seema Latkar, DCPs M Mutturaj and S Jahnavi and CAR staff.
– Team Mysoorunews
Mysooru News
