Replacement of incandescent bulbs that illuminate Mysuru palace under way ahead of Dasara

The authorities are in the process of rep^lacing the burnt-out incandescent bulbs that illuminate the Mysuru palace with a golden hue in the run-up to Dasara.

Nearly 1,00,000 bulbs are used to illuminate the entire palace, and while replacement of faulty ones is an ongoing process, it is stepped up ahead of the festival to ensure there is no visible gap in illumination.

Subramanya, Deputy Director, Mysuru Palace Board, said that about 17,000 to 20,000 bulbs are replaced annually depending on their malfunctioning. These are special bulbs that are not generally manufactured, and are procured from a firm based in New Delhi through local contractors who bid when tenders are invited every year, he added.

Nearly 1,00,000 bulbs are used to illuminate the entire palace, and while replacement of faulty ones is an ongoing process, it is stepped up ahead of Dasara to ensure there is no visible gap in illumination.
| Photo Credit:
M.A. SRIRAM

“The palace uses 15-watt incandescent bulbs, as this wattage produces a golden hue when illuminated at night, which has become the trademark of the illuminated palace,” said Satish Kumar, Assistant Executive Engineer.

Mr. Kumar pointed out that efforts had been made to switch from incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs. However, the LED bulbs emitted a silver or whitish light, which marred the aesthetics of the illuminated palace, which is traditionally associated with a golden glow, and amounted to compromising on its heritage aspect, he said.

In addition, the incandescent bulbs do not spoil the aesthetics of the palace during the day as it merges with the building material, while the LED bulbs, when experimented, stood out with its bright white shade marring the beauty of the structure, Mr. Kumar added.

Each bulb costs around ₹30 to ₹40 and the works are completed about a week before Dasara. “The bulb replacement takes place when the palace is illuminated as it enables the maintenance staff to identify those which have blown out,” said Mr. Kumar. The filaments generally tend to burn out when it rains and hence need to be replaced.

Explaining the process, Mr. Kumar said that the engineering section switches on a small portion of the palace wing and it is inspected for any burnt-out bulbs, which are immediately replaced. These are screw-type bulbs and cannot be removed easily nor can they be used anywhere else, he stated. To reach the dome of the palace, workers use cranes and have to reach a height of about 170 ft, according to officials.

In addition to replacement of the bulbs, the palace board has taken up the annual maintenance of the heritage structure including the application of paint, while the horticultural wing is shoring up the lawns in front of the palace in preparation for Dasara.