 Although the kingdom declared independence from Vijayanagara and removed its representatives, Mysore Kingdom continued to recognise the empire and the emperor.Raja Wodeyar began in 1610 the tradition of celebrating Mysore Kingdom's independence from Vijayanagara by offering prayers to the Banni tree, about two miles away from Puragiri, the location of Mysore Palace.His procession from the Palace to the Banni tree in present-day Bannimantap came to be famous after each Mysore king, which, today, has taken the form of the world-famous Mysore Dasara.