THE DELHI DURBAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 4, 14 December 1911, Page 5

THE DELHI DURBAR.

DAZZLI NGIL VARIEGATED COLOURING.

BRILLIANT SCENES

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association.) Delhi, December 13.

Tho Durbar ampithcatrc, fivefold the size of the Coliseum in Rome, forming two semi-circles, the larger being uncovered and surrounded by a semi-circular mound, was crowded with 50,000 of tho populace, including thousands of school children in each section, which were distinguished by coloured headgear. The smaller semi-circle was roofed, with the Durbar shamiana on two front seats in the centre, surrounded bv twelve thousand people, chiefly in their uniforms.

The English visitors wore Court dress, and tho ladies brilliant toilettes.

Closely latticed enclosures were erected behind for the wives of the nrinces.

Just before the commencement, veterans, including a hundred who participated in the mutiny, marched into the arena, bands playing “See the Conquering Hero Comes!” The troops roared a welcome. At eleven o’clock the skirling pipes announced tho coming of the Black Watch to guard the shamiana, the •53rd Sikhs occupying a position on the other side. 'Then came the Viceroy (Lord Hardiuge) and Lady Hardinge. The twelve thousand spectators rose and remained standing until, at 11.30, a salute of 101 guns announced tho arrival of their Majesties.

A battery of artillery swept round the ring. The 10th Hussars and the Viceroy’s scarlet-clad bodyguard, composed of gigantic Sikh lancers, followed. The procession circled the amnithoatre.

Their Majesties alighted at tho shamiana. The King wore his Coronation robe and a surcoat similar to that worn in the Coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Tho Queen was attired in a white dress and a purple velvet robe, being attended by a troop of pages of princely blood, their dresses being of white and blue. The salute of guns ended as their Majesties seated themselves on their thrones in the shamiana. Tho Durbar opened with a flourish of trumpets, and then the drums swelled into a thunderous roar.

The King, in a clear voice, carrying well, expressed l;is pleasure to be in India, and Ins heartfelt satisfaction at the poople’.-s love and Imperial devotion to India’s welfare.

The ceremony of offering homage followed, Lord Hardinge alone kissing his hands. General Sir O’Mnore Creagli led the members of the Viceroy's Council. The Nizan of Hyderabad and the Gaekwar of Baroda followed. Then came the princes of _Mysore, Kashmir, Kaipur, and Rajput, and other princes, most of them wearing their robes of honour of cloth of gold. Many of the robes were priceless, pearls hanging in festoons, whilst the neglects of diamonds and emeralds sparkled in the head-dresses, as did the rubies on the sword hilts.

The massed bauds meanwhile played .soft music.

The. Bpgum of Bhopal, attired in dazzling j robes of richly embroidered gold, heavily veiled, met with a great reception. The homage lasted for i forty minutes, and ended with salaams from the rugged north frontier and the Arabian Desert chieftains.

Their Majesties rose amid strains of the Coronation March, and walked hand-in-hand up the broad raised way 150 yards to a lofty dais placed on' marbld steps twenty feet above the ground, the princely train-bearers following, also attendants bearing symbols of Imperial estate, with scarlet umbrellas and fan and mace.

Upon reaching the golden thrones beneath a golden dome, their Majesties stood a minute to be crowned and robed, facing twenty thousand troops at the foot of the dais, with their glinting scabbards and fluttering pennons. Fifty thousand of the populace gathered beyond, extending in a great sweep for half a mile upon the semicircular mound. Lords Hardinge and Crewe and their. Majesties’ suites were standing on the lower platform of the dais.

Twelve British and twelve Indian trumpters on white horses rode into the central avenue and blew a stirring fanfare on silver trumpets at the foot of the flagstaff, when the Royal Standard fluttered.

General Peyton, the Delhi herald, standing in his stirrups, read the proclamation announcing the London Coronation, and the assistant herald repeated it in the Urdu language. The silver trumpets again sounded, and the massed bands, numbering six- 1 teen hundred performers, played the National Anthem.

A salute of 101 guns was fired in salvoes, the troops outside firing a fen de joie. Lord Hardinge read tho proclamation, excepting tho reference to Bengal and Delhi. This part of the ceremony was ended by the herald calling • for three cheers for the King-Emperor, the concourse of one hundred thousand responding. Their Majesties then returned to the shamiana.

’Flie King, rising unexpectedly, announced the creation of Delhi as the Capital. The suddenness and unexpectedness of the disclosure held all spellbound. There was momentary silence. Then the audience was afire with enthusiasm and Indian cheers.

The ceremony closed with the singing of the National Anthem and final salutes.

The King throughout was calm and dignified, displaying an iron resolution fitting to an Oriental ceremony. A State banquet was given in the evening to Lord and Lady Hardinge. the governors and native princes, and afterwards a reception was held of four thousand in the investiture tent. REJOICINGS AT ADEN. Aden, December 13. At a special Durbar, convened fertile proclamation of the Coronation, the entire European and native communities were present. HELPING THE POOR. Bombay, December 13. Twenty thousand poor congregated on the sea front and secured food and clothes. Many saints and ascetics wore present. There were similar scenes in_ many other districts, and distribution of food and clothing was the loading feature of the celebrations. EXTENSIVE RECEPTIONS HELD BY ROYALTIES. COAT BIN El) PEA YERS O F FERED. (Received 1-1, 10 a.m.) Delhi, December 13. There wore fifteen hundred people

at the King’s reception. While the King was receiving officers, the Queen hold a reception at which there were over a 'Hundred leading princesses, who presented her with a magnificent emerald brooch. The Queen thanked them individually, and conversed with her guests for two hours. The princesses wore magnificent dresses and jewels. The people’s fete was unequalled in the city's history. To-day three great processions of Hindus, Mahommedans and Sikhs offered prayers for long life and happiness for tneir Majesties. Sixteen hundred leaders of different sects offered a combined prayer on a spot where their Majesties appeared later. The incident is unprecedented in the history of India.