Delhi Durbar

The Delhi Durbar (lit. "Court of Delhi") was a big, formal gathering organized by the British Raj at Coronation Park, Delhi, India. It was held to celebrate when a new Emperor or Empress of India began their rule. The word Durbar comes from the Persian term durbar, meaning royal court.

These special events happened three times, in the years 1877, 1903, and 1911, during the time when the British Empire controlled India. In 1911, the actual king, George V, came to India for the Durbar. In the earlier years, the king or queen was represented by a person called their viceroy.

Plans were made to hold another Durbar for George VI, the last emperor, in 1937 or 1938, but these plans were changed because of other important events. After World War II, India and Pakistan became independent countries, and the Durbar tradition ended.

Durbar of 1877

The Durbar of 1877, also called the "Proclamation Durbar", was held starting on January 1, 1877. It was organized by Thomas Henry Thornton to announce Queen Victoria as the Empress of India. This event was mostly official and did not have the large public attendance seen in later durbars.

Important leaders, including the 1st Earl of Lytton, the Viceroy of India, maharajas, nawabs, and intellectuals attended. Inside the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta, there is a message from Queen Victoria about wanting to bring happiness, prosperity, and fairness to all people in India.

During the durbar, Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi spoke for a local political group, asking the Queen to give India the same rights as her British subjects. This speech is seen as the start of the movement for Indian Independence. However, the durbar later faced criticism because money was used for the event during a serious famine in India.

Durbar of 1903

The Durbar of 1903 was a big celebration to welcome King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra as the new Emperor and Empress of India. It was planned by Lord Curzon, who was in charge of India at the time. For two weeks, there were many exciting events and shows. In just a few months, a plain turned into a beautiful city with tents, lights, and special trains to bring people there.

Even though King Edward VII could not come, his brother, the Duke of Connaught, arrived with many important guests. The princes of India came with their finest jewels, and soldiers showed off their skills. The first day had people riding elephants with gold decorations. There were games, dances, and many parties. Journalists and photographers came from all over the world to share the news. Movies of the event helped start India’s early film industry. The celebration ended with a big ball for the most important guests.

Durbar of 1911

See also: 1911 Delhi Durbar Honours

On March 22, 1911, it was announced that a big meeting called the Durbar would happen in December. This was to celebrate the crowning of King George V and Queen Mary as the Emperor and Empress of India. Leaders from all over India were invited to attend.

The King and Queen arrived in Delhi on December 7 after a long journey. Many soldiers marched with them as they entered the city. The Durbar took place on December 12 at Coronation Park. Thousands of people watched as the King and Queen, dressed in special robes and crowns, sat on golden chairs. They listened as announcements were made, including that India’s capital would move from Calcutta to Delhi. The next day, the King and Queen appeared on a balcony to greet even more people who had come to see them. They also watched a big military parade and gave out special medals to soldiers. After the Durbar, the royal couple traveled to Nepal and then across India before leaving on a ship called RMS Medina. A film was made about the event, showing the Durbar in color. Today, the park where it happened is used for big events, and the special chairs are kept in a museum.

Postponed Durbar of 1937 or 1938

When George V passed away in January 1936, his son became Edward VIII. In November 1936, Edward announced in a special speech that he planned to attend a big meeting in Delhi after his coronation in 1937. But Edward stepped down as king in December 1936, and his brother, George VI, was expected to go instead.

However, George felt that traveling to India so soon after his own coronation in May would be too hard for his health. In February 1937, it was announced that the big meeting would be delayed to a later time. Leaders in India were also against the meeting because they wanted more self-government and did not want to support the costs. By February 1938, it was decided to delay the visit again because of concerns about the world's situation and finances. With the start of the Second World War and India's movement toward independence, a royal visit became very unlikely.