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Indian Scene of Procession

Stately scenes in India, likely filmed during the 1903 Delhi Durbar

Non-Fiction 1902 2 mins Silent

Overview

These stately scenes were likely captured during the second of three imperial Durbars held at Delhi under the British Raj. The 1903 Durbar celebrated the succession of King Edward VII as Emperor of India and was masterminded by the Viceroy, Lord Curzon. Most of this film features ‘behind the scenes’ shots of lavishly decorated elephants bearing howdahs, presumably being led off to meet their VIP occupants; we do glimpse a procession, which may have formed part of the Chief’s Retinue Review, held on 7 January 1903.

Edward VII did not attend but sent his brother, the Duke of Connaught; King George V would attend the third and final Delhi Durbar in 1911.