Morning journal and courier., 1880-03-19
Price Four Cents.
A NIalaarajah's Marriage.
Imposing Wedding Procession In
 India.

Imposing Wedding Procession In, 1 India.
 | lBaroda Correspondence Of the Times of IndiaJ Great was the pomp and great were the re- l joicings that attended the nuptial rites of his Highness the Maharajah Syajee Rao Gaekwar
 on Wednesday last. To see the gorgeous l spectacle in all its entirety was however
 almost impossible for European visitors, inas- ! much as seats were provided for them in Nazar Paga, where the marriage ceremony | took place, and they were expected to await the coming of the bridegroom. At about p. m. the marriage procession, which had started from the Lalpura Gate, arrived amid | scene of bewildering yet charming con- fusion. It was dense, surging, picturesque mass of humanity. All types were present. l the highest and the lowest, the richest and the poorest. Among the crowds were sev- eral English soldiers, who had, evidently trudged the whole weary way with the pro cession, and had, therefore, had the oppor-
 tunity of witnessing perhaps more than any one else, and 1t was from one of these most
 intelligent man, that afterward obtained the following account of experiences on this
 eventful day: '1 found out the time of the Residents departure from cantonments and followed him to the Lalpura Gate of the city
 Arrived at the Lalpura Gate there was some
 delay while MT. Mevill and tho officers who accompanied him mounted their elephants At
 last the procession started, n woman in front
 
 dahs, then elephants with officers travelling
 gents, political agents, and globe trotters. ali
 jumbled up anyhow, then myself on foot. then
 Mir. Melyills elephant abreast, of which, when there was room, walked the magnificent els- phant with the State gold tinsel, inside of which was any amount of gold tinsel, inside which tinsel, was given to understand was his Highness Syajee Rao Gaikwar. I have omitted to mention the Arab Guard of his Highness, which joined on the way. AS we cod Irvt ,kr AE1 God Save the Queen in various keys. Event ually We arrived opposite the Naza Paga, where the marriage WAS to take place. Drawn up opposite this was guard of honor of the Twentieth N. L had now to think of some method of obtaining an entrance into the Paga- Eventually I WAS in hall such as I had never been before. Here saw gorgeous columns decorated iu a most elaborate and artistic style with gold and silver and all the colors of the rainbow. The walls were cover ed with effective, if somewhat crude, native paintings, and the whole reminded me of the Greek temple of my imagination brought to life. The ladies and gentlemen were seated along the central aisle. Of native gentlemen there were plenty but did not see one single native lady. I hear it is not their custom to take open part in any festivity. The sombra dresses of the Europeans blended in most artistic manner with the gaily-coIored apparel of the Indians. and the whole was to my eyes the most pompous gathering that had ever seen. fell into 8 reverie. From this was aroused by a sudden clanH of discordant music which made me swear, (inwardy,) but was quite consoled when observed that the cause of the discordance was the entrance of two nautch girls. I was so much taken with this hall that persuaded Sergt. Jones, of my con- pany, to come with me next day and have good look around. Now, Sergt Jones has passed the Rorkee College, and is qualified something or other, so I asked him to write ma of tba plo orI is what he wrote: The durbar pavilion, a large temporary structure, capable of contain ing 500 or 900 people seated is thoroughly characteristic. No one in any other part of the world would ever think of erecting so cost ly structure, replete with the most minute decorations, for the purpose of the hour, and yet 1t IS this butterfly magnifcence which adds the great charm to Oriental splendor. The columns are of Hindu character, supporting cuspsd corbelling, form of ornament orig inally Mohammedan, but now, by use and modification, distinctly Hindu. The ceiling, flat aud white, is to a great extent hidden by the crystal chandeliers. The decorations, in green gold, and silver classical and exu- berant. The ground work of painted mirrors forms the silver, with the green and gold of tinsel. At the end of the hall cloth of gold, pierced with small round holes and showing globes of crimson and pale blue glass, when lighted by the sun during the day produces a wonderfully rich effect"
 nad almost forgotten 10 mention that actually part of the ceremony. I man. aged to get in with one of the lots who were in turn allowed to go to the scene of the rite itself. The Gaikwars are always married in s stable, suppose because the Mahrattas ara such famed horsemen, but the particular sta ble in which the present Gaik war WAS married had been so converted that it would have taken very horsey man indesd to have ogaized in it home for noble quadruped When I entered this stable found a dense crowd, through which I elbowed my way with characteristic modesty, and at last found my self qnite near the Maharajah and his bride, who were seated on the ground surrounded by Brahmins of high rank, one of whom was reading something in @ monotonous tone of voice, which I fancy must have been an in junction to wives. The bride was bowed and apparently overcome by emotion, and the bridegroom was thoughtful and silent. Mean while, the mystic thread which binds them irrevocably together was wound round and round and left the place with impress sion that had never seen a more beautiful or more imposing ceremony.