INDIAN STATE DURBAR

Shannon News, 10 December 1926, Page 2

INDIAN STATE DURBAR

CEREMONIES AT MYSOItE. : A MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY. An account of the annual durbar; hold in Mysore, India," in October, has been received by Lieutenant Colonel E. G. Fraser from Mrs' Leslie Totter, whoso husband, 'Captain Potter, K.Z.S.C., Auckland, is at prosent attached on exchange to the 2nd battalion Highland Light Infantry, stationed at Bangalore.' ; i 'Die ceremonials, which t included both' an Indian and a European durbar,' extended over the 'four days ol' , the Dasara, a period oil holiday ana religious festival for the Brahmins. Captain and Mr s Potter stayed' 'at Government House as guests of His , Highness the Maharaja, who spends, "about £05,000 on the festival each year. The guests approached the ordinary calling entrance of the palace, - a low door, wonderfully carved and iulaid with mother of pearl. They felt-they -were about to enter atem- • pie rather than a palace, and this impression increased . when they heard chanting from the' depths of the building.'' Moving forward, they eanie to a grille guarded by the palace guards wijh drawn swords. '. At a word from the guide the'grille was drawn back and they passed into.the palace. .Elaborate Ceremonial. The durbar was an example ol organisation -and punctilious ceremony For the Resident and his staff two »«vte carriages, each with four horses : iind postilions, were provided, and ' ' an escort of 50 men of the Mysore Horse. - Thus equipped, the cavalcade drove up to the state entrance, about 200yds. from' which palace ; ' honours wtm accorded by spearmen, '■ who fell in on either side of Ihe.car- •' riages and ran with them until they :'i ■ stopped. Conch ' blowers heralded the Resident and a salute of 13 guns was fired, the troops arawn up in the outer courtyard presenting arms. The illuminations were wonderful, ■ including flaming torches, as well as electric .lights. All the guests assem- -. bled in the Durbar Hall and'awaited the arrival of the Maharaja. There they had the opportunity of examining the throne, surmounted by an umbrella of gold, with studded jewels and bundles or ,veal pearls. The throne stands on a cloth of white satin and pure gold thread. Vftcr a short interval, the Maha- - raja arrived'- sovural servants leading '' the way/'salaaniing; showering rose i leaves arifrl baring incense-burners. - -A' smalh-maV'thc. Maharaja looked '■■■ ■ wonderfully majestic and calm.. He -.l' --bowed to the guests and then took V, : his'seat on the throne. Headed by '■' ", the' Resident's wife, the guests filed ':' A past and were preseuted. They theii ' took their places -on cither hide ol ■: the throne and watched dancing,

i wrestling. State Elephant's Jewels. Later the Sirdar came forward, garlanded the Resident, presented him with a bouquet and a palm, leal covered | with gilt and sprinkled him with scent. After another short interval, the Dewan signified to the Resident that it was time for -him to take his departure, and honours were again accorded. The male guests were then garlanded and the ladies filed past the Maharaja and were each presented with a bouquet.. All waited while the, Indian guests ot high rank Avere presented. "Nothing," says Mrs Potter, "could have been more brilliant than the Durbar Hall, with its rich colourings, its quantities of ltehts, its' gol<3 and green pillars and the assembly, the men in full-dress uniform and the ladies in evening dress, and nothing could have been more exact than the way in which His Highness received the 20ft guests." The royal procession of the following day. was the most important event. The Maharaja rode on the state elephant. This animal's howdah is of pure gold, studded with precious jewels. Hopes of pearls hang from the elephant's ears. His tusk.s are cut short and finished with gold rings, and he is covered with a huge cloth of gold. The feet arc heavily gilded and there i« a curious

head covering, worked in gold re lief, from between the eyes to halfway down the trunk.