The Delhi Durbar was an Indian imperial- style mass assembly organized by the British at Coronation Park, Delhi, to mark the succession of an Emperor or Empress of India. Also known as the Imperial Durbar, it was held three times, in 1877, 1903, and 1911, at the height of the British Empire. ⁣
⁣The 1911 Durbar was the only one that a so king George V, attended. The term was derived from the common Mughal term⁣ durbar. Practically every ruling prince plus thousands of landed gentry and other persons of note, attended to pay respect to their ruler.⁣
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The official ceremonies lasted from 7 December to 16 December, with the Durbar itself occurring on 12 December.⁣
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They received homage from the native princes – including one woman, the Begum of Bhopal – at the ceremonial tent.⁣
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A feature film of the event titled With Our King and Queen Through India (1912) – also known as The Durbar in Delhi – was filmed in the early color process Kinemacolor and released on 2 February 1912.⁣
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In this Darbar, the King declared that Capital of India will be transferred from Calcutta to Delhi.⁣
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In the same Darbar it was also declared the Partition of Bengal is cancelled.⁣
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The Congress passed a resolution condemning the ceremony and show of this Darbar at the cost of the poor Indians.⁣
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Today, the Coronation Park in Delhi is sometimes used for big religious festivals and municipal conventions. The thrones used by King George V and Queen Mary are on display at Marble Hall Gallery and Museum at Rashtrapati Bhavan.⁣
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⁣Why Delhi?⁣
Early 1900’s, Bengal was amid all political affairs for many factors like fertile lands, cheaper labors, immense zamindari wealth and flourishing ports. As the⁣ Nationalist movements gained momentum, the British faced inconveniences in their administration.⁣
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Political propaganda, communal tension made the government shift base to Delhi. Delhi seemed the apt choice as it already housed many important leaders, institutions.⁣
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