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Wedding of Maharaj Kumar Shri Meghrajji Shaeb of Kutch and Maharaj Shri of Kishangarh, 1933

Fireworks, illuminations and traditional dance all feature in a stunningly opulent royal wedding at Kundla, Gujarat

Amateur film 1933 42 mins Silent

Overview

Lavish' doesn't begin to describe this royal wedding at Kundla (now Savar Kundla) in Gujarat, uniting a prince of Kutch, in northern Gujarat, with a princess of Kishangarh, in the neighbouring state of Rajasthan. Guests, drawn from the very top of Indian society, arrive by yacht, train and carriage and are given a military welcome before enjoying a performance of Dandiya Raas, a traditional ritual sword dance performed with sticks. The celebrations apparently go on for days, and include feasting, elephants, dancing horses and spectacular firework displays before the guests go their separate ways.

This three-part film, one of a handful shot around Gujarat by amateur filmmaker Colonel V.C. Steer-Webster, an officer in the Royal Engineers, gives us exceptional images of the almost-impossibly opulent proceedings.

Original title

Wedding of Maharaj Kumar Shri Meghrajji Shaeb of Kutch and Maharaj Kumari Shri of Kishangarh, 1933

Genres

Amateur film

Country

United Kingdom

Language

No Dialogue with English subtitles

Subjects

Maharajas Garden parties Weddings Sword dancing Saheb, Kumar Shri Meghrajji Shri, Kumari

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