Released by Eastman Kodak as part of the Cinegraph Film Library in 1926, this short silent film by Herford Tynes Cowling, A.S.C. shows the Indian durbar or court of Maharaja Hari Singh GCSI GCIE GCVO (23 September 1895 – 26 April 1961). Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. As the film shows, he was crowned as the Maharaja of Kashmir in 1926. The coronation ceremony included a fantastic parade of elephants, and various tribal chiefs who presented their new ruler with treasure. Singh remained titular Maharaja of the state until 1952, when the monarchy was abolished. He spent his final days in Bombay and died in 1961.

Durbar is a Persian-derived term meaning the kings’ or rulers noble court or a formal meeting where the king held all discussions regarding the state. It was used in India for a ruler’s court or feudal levy as the latter came to be ruled and later administered by foreigners.

Herford Tynes Cowling was a movie producer and explorer.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com