An Imperial Spectacle: The Delhi Durbars and its Ceremonies

The procession observed a distinct order based on a hierarchy, with the most important dignitaries leading the march on elephants. Lord and Lady Curzon, led the 1903 Durbar procession as the Viceroy and Vicereine of India.

The rulers of the Indian Princely states followed the Viceregal procession. This photograph shows the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Gaekwad of Baroda during the 1903 State Entry. The rulers followed a separate order in the procession based on their favoured status in the Raj.

The 1911 Durbar saw the inclusion of the Royal Procession for the first time, along with British government officials and rulers of the princely states. This is a photograph of King George V passing through Delhi Gate during the 1911 State Entry. 

One of the most elaborate ceremonies which commenced the fortnight of events at the Durbars was the State Entry. It was a grand procession led by high-ranking British officials and rulers of Indian princely states, signifying their inclusion in the Durbar. It stretched over four miles—starting from Queen’s Road, proceeding all the way to the durbar camps in North Delhi.

The procession observed a distinct order based on a hierarchy, with the most important dignitaries leading the march on elephants. Lord and Lady Curzon, led the 1903 Durbar procession as the Viceroy and Vicereine of India.

The rulers of the Indian Princely states followed the Viceregal procession. This photograph shows the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Gaekwad of Baroda during the 1903 State Entry. The rulers followed a separate order in the procession based on their favoured status in the Raj.

The 1911 Durbar saw the inclusion of the Royal Procession for the first time, along with British government officials and rulers of the princely states. This is a photograph of King George V passing through Delhi Gate during the 1911 State Entry. 

One of the most elaborate ceremonies which commenced the fortnight of events at the Durbars was the State Entry. It was a grand procession led by high-ranking British officials and rulers of Indian princely states, signifying their inclusion in the Durbar. It stretched over four miles—starting from Queen’s Road, proceeding all the way to the durbar camps in North Delhi.

The procession observed a distinct order based on a hierarchy, with the most important dignitaries leading the march on elephants. Lord and Lady Curzon, led the 1903 Durbar procession as the Viceroy and Vicereine of India.

The rulers of the Indian Princely states followed the Viceregal procession. This photograph shows the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Gaekwad of Baroda during the 1903 State Entry. The rulers followed a separate order in the procession based on their favoured status in the Raj.

The 1911 Durbar saw the inclusion of the Royal Procession for the first time, along with British government officials and rulers of the princely states. This is a photograph of King George V passing through Delhi Gate during the 1911 State Entry. 

One of the most elaborate ceremonies which commenced the fortnight of events at the Durbars was the State Entry. It was a grand procession led by high-ranking British officials and rulers of Indian princely states, signifying their inclusion in the Durbar. It stretched over four miles—starting from Queen’s Road, proceeding all the way to the durbar camps in North Delhi.

The procession observed a distinct order based on a hierarchy, with the most important dignitaries leading the march on elephants. Lord and Lady Curzon, led the 1903 Durbar procession as the Viceroy and Vicereine of India.

The rulers of the Indian Princely states followed the Viceregal procession. This photograph shows the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Gaekwad of Baroda during the 1903 State Entry. The rulers followed a separate order in the procession based on their favoured status in the Raj.

The 1911 Durbar saw the inclusion of the Royal Procession for the first time, along with British government officials and rulers of the princely states. This is a photograph of King George V passing through Delhi Gate during the 1911 State Entry. 

For the Durbar of 1887 and 1903, with no monarch present, Viceroys, Lord Lytton and Lord Curzon read the Queen’s proclamation of 1858. This was followed by a ritual where British officials and the ruling princes of Indian states paid obeisance to the sovereign by bowing and presenting gifts to the monarch.

In 1911, King George V and Queen Mary attended the coronation ceremony wearing their coronation robes, with the King-Emperor also wearing the Imperial Crown of India. A 101-gun salute was fired while they entered to take their seats in the amphitheatre.

The official coronation ceremony was the main event of the Delhi Durbars. It  took place in the presence of a vast audience in a specially constructed amphitheatre in Delhi.

For the Durbar of 1887 and 1903, with no monarch present, Viceroys, Lord Lytton and Lord Curzon read the Queen’s proclamation of 1858. This was followed by a ritual where British officials and the ruling princes of Indian states paid obeisance to the sovereign by bowing and presenting gifts to the monarch.

In 1911, King George V and Queen Mary attended the coronation ceremony wearing their coronation robes, with the King-Emperor also wearing the Imperial Crown of India. A 101-gun salute was fired while they entered to take their seats in the amphitheatre.

The official coronation ceremony was the main event of the Delhi Durbars. It  took place in the presence of a vast audience in a specially constructed amphitheatre in Delhi.

For the Durbar of 1887 and 1903, with no monarch present, Viceroys, Lord Lytton and Lord Curzon read the Queen’s proclamation of 1858. This was followed by a ritual where British officials and the ruling princes of Indian states paid obeisance to the sovereign by bowing and presenting gifts to the monarch.

In 1911, King George V and Queen Mary attended the coronation ceremony wearing their coronation robes, with the King-Emperor also wearing the Imperial Crown of India. A 101-gun salute was fired while they entered to take their seats in the amphitheatre.

A troupe of nautch dancers performing for a crowd during the 1911 Durbar. 

The famous 'Devil Dancers' from Ladakh travelled specially to perform for the King-Emperor and Queen-Empress at the Durbar of 1911. The group of masked dancers performed for all the durbar guests at the main amphitheatre. 

One of the most significant and memorable moments from the Garden Party of the 1911 Durbar was their Majesties, King George V and Queen Mary presenting themselves at the historic jharoka for darshan—a practice, which before this, was reserved for medieval Kings in India, and made famous by the Mughals. A crowd of nearly half a million people assembled to catch a glimpse of the newly proclaimed Emperor and Empress of India

A troupe of nautch dancers performing for a crowd during the 1911 Durbar. 

The famous 'Devil Dancers' from Ladakh travelled specially to perform for the King-Emperor and Queen-Empress at the Durbar of 1911. The group of masked dancers performed for all the durbar guests at the main amphitheatre. 

One of the most significant and memorable moments from the Garden Party of the 1911 Durbar was their Majesties, King George V and Queen Mary presenting themselves at the historic jharoka for darshan—a practice, which before this, was reserved for medieval Kings in India, and made famous by the Mughals. A crowd of nearly half a million people assembled to catch a glimpse of the newly proclaimed Emperor and Empress of India

A troupe of nautch dancers performing for a crowd during the 1911 Durbar. 

The famous 'Devil Dancers' from Ladakh travelled specially to perform for the King-Emperor and Queen-Empress at the Durbar of 1911. The group of masked dancers performed for all the durbar guests at the main amphitheatre.