What was the Delhi Durbar 1903? (3 Viewers)

[Ana Donzino]

Hello,

I decided to post a new thread about the Delhi Durbar itself. Many people is not clear about what it was and what happened there, so I'll be posting everything I have related to it here, my own pictures and information, and my future plans.
I'll begin with the brief explanation I have in our website, in a few minutes, below this post. I want to be sure that all the text and pictures fit so it will take a bit more than a couple of minutes, but it will be here soon.
Please, feel free to add any information you'd like to add, and ask or comment whatever you feel like.
I'll begin with saying to all:

Welcome to the 1903 Delhi Durbar Thread! I hope you enjoy the Durbar as much as I do.

More later,

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

Just an introduction. What the internet says about the Durbar.

On New year's day 1903, Edward the VII was declared Emperor of India. The occasion was marked by a grand ceremony held at the Delhi Durbar - a spectacular and elaborate festival organised by the British government. The Durbar was intended to highlight the supposed glory of the monarchy and its Empire. The festivities involved an enormous procession which included a line of Indian princes riding on jewelled elephants.
http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/texts/empire/delhi/1903.html

The durbar ceremony itself fell on New Year's day and was followed by days of polo and other sports, dinners, balls, military reviews, bands, and exhibitions. The world’s press despatched their best journalists, artists and photographers to cover proceedings. The popularity of movie footage of the event, shown in makeshift cinemas throughout India, is often credited with having launched the country’s early film industry. (Wikipedia)

The British considered a Durbar a distinctly Indian idea, exemplifying the Indian love of fanfare and ceremonial. In fact, a Durbar is no different from a Coronation or Investiture and such ceremonies are universal. For who in the world does not like a little tamasha or fanfare and ceremony with a free banquet or two thrown in. Durbars in India were traditionally held to celebrate the accession to the throne of a King or the marriage of a Prince and similar milestones. So, the 1903Durbar, held on New Year's Day, was to proclaim the accession of King Edward VII. It was intended both as a celebration and as a reinforcement of the idea of Empire and of India's place in it.
http://gibberandsqueak.blogspot.com/2008/10/curzons-delhi-durbar-1903-photorealism.html


Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

King Edward the VII
On New year's day 1903, Edward the VII was declared Emperor of India. The occasion was marked by a grand ceremony held at the Delhi Durbar - a spectacular and elaborate festival organized by the British government. Lord Curzon was determined that it should be "the biggest thing ever seen in India" and spent almost two years in meticulous planning to ensure that this was so. The planning and organization of the durbar was spearheaded by Sir James Robert (JR) Dunlop Smith. The site selected was the same upon which the 1877 Durbar had been staged.

Edward VII, to Curzon's disappointment, did not attend but sent his brother, the Duke of Connaught who arrived with a mass of dignitaries by train from Bombay just as Curzon and his government came in the other direction from Calcutta.

Lord Curzon

The Duke of Connaught

The two full weeks of festivities were devised in meticulous detail by Lord Curzon. It was a dazzling display of pomp, power and split second timing. Neither the earlier Delhi Durbar of 1877, nor the later Durbar held there in 1911, could match the pageantry of Lord Curzon's 1903 festivities. In a few short months at the end of 1902, a deserted plain was transformed into an elaborate tented city, complete with temporary light railway to bring crowds of spectators out from Delhi, a post office with its own stamp, telephone and telegraphic facilities, a variety of stores, a Police force with specially designed uniform, hospital, magistrate's court and complex sanitation, drainage and electric light installations. Souvenir guide books were sold and maps of the camping ground distributed. Marketing opportunities were craftily exploited. Special medals were struck, firework displays, exhibitions and glamorous dances held.


The Durbar camps, outside Delhi


Opening of the Indian Art Exhibition

Part one. Just found out that I can't post more than 5 pics in one post.
To be continued

Ana

 

[Ana Donzino]

Part 2

The Official programme of the events, crowded into the space of twelve days is briefly as follows: - The State Entry of His Excellency the Viceroy; The Elephant Procession; The Opening of the Indian Art Exhibition; The Durbar Proceedings; The State Church Service; Review of Troops and the departure of His Excellency the Viceroy, Other functions and amusements: Polo tournaments; Foot Ball; Cricket; Assaults-at-Arms; Review of the Native Chiefs' Retinues, and fireworks and Illuminations.


Winner Polo Team

Gymnastic exhibition

The Review of the Troops

The imperial durbar ceremony itself fell on New Year's day and was followed by days of polo and other sports, dinners, balls, military reviews, bands, and exhibitions. The world's press dispatched their best journalists, artists and photographers to cover proceedings.

The programme of events ran over 10 days. It began with the grand opening procession on 29th December, where the Viceroy, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, other British VIPs and Indian Princes paraded through the streets of Delhi on elephants.


The Imperial Durbar, on January 1st

 

[Ana Donzino]

The Main Procession

The proceedings opened on December 29, 1902, and the viceroy and his royal guests were received at the train station within the city, and then conducted a parade of elephants through the city streets and then out through a gate. The guests included royals from almost all of the princely states of India, including Maharajahs, Rajahs, Nawabs, and other minor chiefs.


Station Platform

Lord and Lady Curzon at the Station, on their elephant
This picture was a main source for me when I made the 4 elephants of the aides-de-camps. They are standing at the Station entrance, waiting for the Curzons' elephant to go by.


Lord Curzon's elephant

The Durbar Route


The State Entry and the Elephant Procession was perhaps in itself the most striking and to the Western mind the most impressive spectacle. The flower of Indian Nobility mounted on magnificent elephants resplendent in cloth of gold, with rich saddle cloths laden with priceless embroidery almost sweeping the ground on their side.

 

[Ana Donzino]

The Maharajas elephants at Queen's Road, outside the train station,
waiting for the Main Procession to begin
Here is where the elephants waited for Curzon's elephant to lead the Procession. They must have been there a while until it began. This was a great spot to take pictures of the elephants, still without their maharajas and standing still, not walking. I have a few shots taken from this particular stage. One in particular was a glass slide that I bought, from the Rewa elephant, that I used for the last elephant I made.

This is the larger file that I could upload. The original image is way more neat than this. I enclose a detail below. The elephants were standing in the order that they went in each column, right column on the right side of the street, left column on the left, as you'll see in the picture above. Rewa was on the left column, fifth in order. At his side in Quen's Street, before Rewa, was Indore, and after him in the left column was Orchha. The servants that you see closer belong to this last elephant. The guy with the earring, to the left of the elephant clothes, was the one standing outside the howda, to the left of the maharaja. The one by the trunk was one of the guards. Check the elephant picture and you'll see what I'm talking about.
http://www.beau-geste.com/newtoy/durbar/423-424-425-426-427.htm
The neatness of this photographs is very inspiring at the time of sculpting

A detail of the elephant's earrings and clothes


More later. I hope I'm not boring you. On the other hand, you can always choose not to read

Ana

 

[zblang]

Excellent thread - thanks for starting this Ana!

 

[Ana Donzino]

Thank you, Zach!

 

[thebritfarmer]

I am enjoying it immensely.

Will you be making Curzon & Connaughts elephants ?

 

[Ana Donzino]

Here and there a trunk waved a fan or curved upwards as if saluting. Howdahs of every pattern were to be seen, high and low, long and short, silvered over or bedizened with gold, balanced on the broad backs, draped in yellow and red, purple and blue and green. Long silver chains depended on either side of the massive heads and made a musical jingle at every step. Men with maces marched alongside in some instances, and attendants held bright-coloured umbrellas over the heads of the Chiefs, who sat in every attitude in their howdahs.


The Main Procession walking along Queen's Road

Fifty elephants were invited to participate in the Main Procession. But they were Fourty Eight indeed.
The Gaekwar of Baroda could not attend until a couple of days later because of the death of the Maharani, the wife of the later Gaekwar. The elephant of Cutch had to be separated from the rest close to the beginning, because the elephant went mad and didn't follow any orders. Finally, the Maharaja of Udaipur arrived 2 days later because of the illness of his son


The Procession turning the corner at Queen's Road
towards Elgin Road


Khas Road, the path that the elephants took to cross the Champ de Mars, the space between the Red Fort and the Jumma Masjid



All the Retinue elephants, from all the states (166 in total) stood side by side along the side of Elgin Road, in front of the Red Fort, and saluted the Main Procession as the elephants passed. When the head elephants (6 with aides-de camps, 1 for Lord and Lady Curzon and 1 for the Duke and Duchess of Connaught) and the 48 Maharajas turned into Khas Road, the Retinues elephants prepared to follow them in their way through Delhi.
As the head of the elephant procession passed, there came slowly and in duly regulated order the highest nobility of India, in all the glory and pomp that our imaginations have ever pictured. His Highness the Nizam and the Maharaja of Mysore led, the Maharajas of Travancore, and Kashmir coming next, and we were soon deep in admiration at the display of the gold and silver howdahs, sumptuous clothes, richly embroidered, the sheen of jewels, the bright colours of turbans and apparel and the kaleidoscopic effects that were revealed as the procession skirted the Jama Musjid

The Main Procession beginning their turn around the Jumma Masjid.

 

[Ana Donzino]

The first turn of the Procession. The Red Fort at the distance.


The Champs de Mars, crowded in the Main Procession morning


The Procession from the back, at the first corner of the Jumma Masjid


The last 4 elephants of the Main Procession: Janjira, Manipur,
Keng Tung and Möng Nai (the Shan states)


One of the spectators point of view, in Khas Road

 

[Peter Reuss]

Quick...someone warn Pat to get a cover for his keyboard...his drool over this thread might short it out {sm4}

Ana...great thread!!

 

[Ana Donzino]

The head of the Retinues Procession, in front of the Jumma Masjid. The Baby Elephant from Rewa is going in front.


More Retainers by the Jumma Masjid


The Retainers at the first turn. The elephant of the executioner of Rewa is the closest to the camera.

 

[Ana Donzino]

After the route around the Jumma, the elephants went towards Delhi's main street, the famous Chadni Chawk.




Chadni Chawk street


The Main Procession passing in front of the Town Hall:
Orchha, Kotah, Datia and Karauli

The Darbar itself was held on January 1, 1903, in a large amphitheater on the plain beyond the Ridge at Delhi; the site of the Imperial Assemblage of 1877. The 1903 Durbar was one of the finest spectacles India had ever seen during the Colonial rule - the parade of the Native Retainers at the Coronation Durbar. Dunlop Smith turned what many Englishmen expected to be shambles into a magnificent spectacle. The Native Princes were delighted that he had shown their pageantry to such good effect.


The Retainers Procession in front of the Town Hall


The Main Procession in Chadni Chawk

 

[zblang]

I have all my beau geste elephants marching single file! Now that I see them two by two, I can add twice as many! {sm4}

 

[Ana Donzino]

The official elephants at the end of Chadni Chawk


The Procession turning at the end of Chadni Chawk st.


The Procession towards the city gates

The Durbar included sports, music and competitions and a review of 34,000 troops. An investiture, a state ball, the biggest display of Indian arts and crafts ever assembled and a very popular review of a delegation of retainers from some of the states were further highlights of the event.
The event was entitled the 'Native chief's retainers review' and attracted considerable press interest in both India and Britain.


The elephants leaving the city

 

[Ana Donzino]

The official elephants outside the city, at the saluting point


The Retainers at the saluting point, leaving towards their camps

This is all for today. A general view of the Retainers Review tomorrow.
I want to say that I couldn't have done all this research without the huge help of my dearest friends and fellow Durbar fans, Bill Pitt and Bill Spear. I will never get tired of thanking you, guys

Ana

 

[wadepat]

Hi Ana,

I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you and the information you are presenting in this thread. Your capacity to tell the story of the 1903 Durbar is equal to the artistry and skill you demonstrate in the production of the wonderful elephants and figures you create to represent the event. I am thrilled that you have taken the time to share the information with all of us. I am spellbound by your narrative. Thank you so much for presenting this information is such a wonderfully organized manner. {bravo}}

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[wadepat]

Quick...someone warn Pat to get a cover for his keyboard...his drool over this thread might short it out {sm4}

Ana...great thread!!

Hi Pete,

TOO LATE!!!! ^&grin

Warmest personal regards,

Pat :wink2:

 

[Ana Donzino]

I am enjoying it immensely.

Will you be making Curzon & Connaughts elephants ?

Eventually yes. I'm trying not to make things that were already made (by Britains in this case), but I know that I will get to a point when I'll have to make them. Not this year's plan, nor the next one's, but in the future

Ana