MAHARAJA WALKS BAREFOOT

Evening Star, Issue 21292, 22 December 1932, Page 9

MAHARAJA WALKS BAREFOOT

HOMAGE TO FAMILY DEITY TRIVANDRUM, December 8. The Maharaja of Travancor© who has reached the age_ of twenty, celebrated his second birthday after his investiture, with the customary ceremony of walking barefoot, with head and body uncovered, from the Fort Palace to the temple of the family deity, Padmanabba. There he worshipped before the idol and received the holy waters. Decked with garlands of flowers, he proceeded from the temple to the treasure bouse of the crown jewels. Here he was received by his Dewan (adviser), Mr Austin, of the Indian Civil Service, Sir Ramaswamy Iyer, who was a delegate to the Round Table Conference, his constitutional adviser, and other State officers.

An inspection of two battalions of the State Brigade, under the command of Major Turner, was followed by a procession in which the young Maharaja, seated in a sumptuous ivory palanquin mounted upon an elephant, was followed by thousands of his subjects. From his own privy purse the Maharaja gave £3,750 to feed the poor.