The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-23
FOR AN AMERICAN GIRL
THE CEREMONIES OVER WHICH
LADY CURZON WILL PRESIDE.
Nature and Purpose of the Great Dur
bar at DeIhi-Preparations for Pro-
claiming the New Emperor.

of the most splendid Oriental ceremonies
of modern times when the durbar at Delhi
takes place in January in the presence of
Lord and Lady Curzon. the viceroy of In
dia and his beautiful American wife.
AS the durbar. such as the one about to
take place, is an exceedingly rare event.
few people realize or. for the matter of
fact, even know what the interesting cere-
monies consist in. To better understand
them one must remember that in the Orient
sovereigns are proclaimed and not crowned.
Thus King Edward will be proclaimed EN-
peror of India at the Delhi durbar with all
the BETTING pomp due to so great procla-
nation.
The grand ceremony which will mark this
announcement will take place Jan. l. at
noon, on the same site as Lord Lytton's
assemblage for the proclamation of the
title of the late Queen Empress on Jan. 1,
1877 This is some four miles outside of
the city, and here a great amphitheater
shaped like a horseshoe has been erected
During the ceremony the viceroy will oc-
cupy dais in the inner recess of the
arena, and the ruling chiefs and leading
guests will be ranged in the front row of
the adjoining tiers
After the ordinary durbaris and Euro
pean spectators have been arranged in
their correct places in the great hall the
native princes will drive up in procession
In due order of precedence. according to
rank, the highest coming last, and each
receiving the proper salute of guns. Then
will follow the principal governors and
lieutenant governors, with their escorts
Sir Charles RivaZ taking precedence of
all others In virtue of the fact that the
durbar Is held I'm the Punjab territory
Then the commander-in-chief. Lord Kitch-
ener, and finally, in magnificent process
sion, the viceroy
RESPONSE TO THE HERALD
A herald with stentorian voice will then
proclaim to the 1900 assembled people
King Edward VII, Emperor of all India"
whereupon the entire multitude, besides the
10000 troops drawn up in line outside and
facing the durbar hall, will make thrilling
response. About 10000 rifles will fire a sa-
lutte. and a brigade of 1Ol guns and the
massed bands will play the national an
them. the guns accompanying the music At
ter this the viceroy will address, the durbar
and will also read to the assemblage a spe-
cial message from the king Emperor" to
the people OF India. 1t has been rumored
that some extraordinary political announce
ment, In the style, perhaps, of the historical
proclamation of 1885, may be then made.
Lord Curzon has already tried his voice
In the vast hall, and, it is said, can be dis
tinctly heard from one end to the oIner of
1t, which will add to the impressiveness of
his address
After the viceroy's speech the ruling prin-
ces will be presented. Each name will be
vociferated in turn by the herald This will
form quite the most dazzling spectacular
event In the whole proceedings. BY the
viceroy's special directions the native prin-
ces will be arrayed in the true national
robes or state, and the scene i'm consequence
will be a unique display of Oriental splen-
dor Never before has even imperial Delhi
witnessed such blaze of diamonds and
precious stones and cloth of gold and en-
broidered silks such as the Indians alone
know how to produce.
At this moment in the ceremony any of
the native rulers who may have special mes
sages of homage or other loyal sentiments
to communicate to the King-Emperor will
be allowed the opportunity of uttering the
same, but this will be purely spontaneous
part In the ceremony, after which the
durbar will dispense with the same elab-
crate ceremony as it assembled.
For the occasion Lord CurzOn's personal
military staff has been increased by four
alds-de-camp, in addition to three extra
aids-de-camp named recently, which, with
the four original aids-de-camp, make eleven
in all. The visitors will include the vice
regal party, with their numerous servants
and attendants, the consuls, and the press,
the liz Raja princes with their huge ret
inues, and the crowds of other distn-
guiShed European, American and Indian
guests. In all, it is now estimated that.
WITH the 4o,cC troops, some people
will gather in Delhi for the durbar.
The assemblage hall has been built under
the direct supervision of Lord Curzon and,
| am told, aided by Lady Curzon's excel
lent taste. The vast sweep of the audi
forum circle affords frontage of 720 feet,
and seats 1925 people. The central por-
ton OF the sweep is occupied by the dais,
decorated by the talented Indian artist who
decorated the Indian drawing room at Os-
borne House. in which Victoria was so in
terested. Ii represents the highest of In
dian artistic art, and is in white and blue
and gold, the colors of the decorations of
the other parts of the buildings. Ri Sadar
Ram Sing, the artist in question, is the
greatest Indian artist. The roof of the
great amphitheater is supported by steel
rails. bolted together, cleverly concealed by
bamboo pillars around them. The latter
are painted white and decorated in blue
and gold. The roof is surmounted by
myriads of domes, made of bamboo and
covered with plaster of paris, painted white
and decorated in blue and gold.
THE GRAND BALL.
Next in splendor with the ~urbar procla-
nation will be the grand ball which will
be given in the Dewan-i-an, or public place
of assembly, which has been enlarged three
times it's original size in order TO accommo-
date the 5000 guests invited to the ball The
original Mogul style in the additions, how
ever, have been strictly adhered to, and. in
| deed, so perfectly done that they can hardly
| be detected as new.
Shah Jehan, who built the palace, divided
| its halls into two parts. The first he named
| ''Dewan-i-an," or place of the common
| people This is the ballroom. Beyond it
| he erected "Dewan-i-khas." or place of
| the selected This he devoted to his harem
and he must have enjoyed the latter, for
| he wrote of it: IF there is a paradise
upon earth, ii is this, 1t is this!" The
| palace is one of the most beautiful in India,
| with its lace-like marbles, its precious in
laid stones and its pure Mogul architecture.
| Most of the buildings erected for the
| stantial in build and elegant in design. The
viceregal residence at the foot of the ridge,
| or hill. is, however, a permanent structure,
| and later will be used for circuit house.
| A camp railway runs in front of it Across
from it are the Duke of Connaught's quar-
| tiers and behind the viceregal residence
| those assigned to Lord Kitchener, and.
| lastly, those where Lady Curzon and her
party will descend.
| Lady Curzon, by the way. has entered
/ heart and soul into all the preparations.
| and her taste, as well as her tact, has
| proved invaluable. The artistic side of the
durbar camps has come under her direc-
| ton, and the decorations in white, blue
| and gold are really charming. But ii is in
/ the permanent viceregal residence that
| Lady Curzon's taste is everywhere evident
| At her suggestion the decorations are in
| amples of pure Oriental decoration, and
she has taken infinite pains to choose the
| rare brocades the exQuisitely carved fur
niture, the sumptuous rugs and rich hang
| ings which adorn il. In her favorite blue
/ salon a the government house in Simla.