c19th Delhi Durbar Honouring Queen Victoria, 1877 Photo
A rare 1877 panoramic photograph of the Delhi Durbar captures the grand ceremony held in honor of Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901 and remains one of the longest-serving monarchs in British history. In 1876, the British Parliament conferred upon her the additional title of “Empress of India.”
To mark this historic proclamation, Lord Lytton, the then Viceroy of India, organized the Delhi Durbar of 1877, also known as the Imperial Durbar or Proclamation Durbar. Astoundingly, more than 10,000 people attended the event, far exceeding expectations. The gathering included maharajas, British governors, high-ranking officials, and heads of administration. Lord Lytton read the proclamation first in English and then in Urdu, symbolizing the union of the British Crown and India.
The ceremony concluded with an impressive 101-gun salute, leaving a lasting imprint on colonial history. This was the first of three Delhi Durbars, followed by the 1903 Coronation Durbar and the grand 1911 Delhi Durbar attended by King George V and Queen Mary.
The 1877 Delhi Durbar remains a remarkable milestone in India’s colonial past. Interestingly, just ten years later, in 1887, the empire celebrated Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years of her reign. Click photo to enlarge.
Did you know – During the British colonial era in India, gun salutes symbolized rank and prestige. Queen Victoria, who was proclaimed Empress of India in 1876, was honored with a grand 101-gun salute. The Viceroy of India, representing the Crown, traditionally received a 31-gun salute. Other princely chiefs and rulers were accorded 21, 19, 17, 15, 11, or 9-gun salutes, based on their status, hierarchy, and relationship with the British Raj.
From the collection – 1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal Art Abstract (#13).,
