INDIA: MAHARAJA OF GWALIOR MARRIES PRINCESS KIRAN RAJYA LAKSHMI DEVI OF NEPAL WITH THE GRANDEUR AND SPLENDOUR OF TIMES PAST

Record ID: 175859

  • Title: INDIA: MAHARAJA OF GWALIOR MARRIES PRINCESS KIRAN RAJYA LAKSHMI DEVI OF NEPAL WITH THE GRANDEUR AND SPLENDOUR OF TIMES PAST
  • Date: 10th May 1966
  • Summary: COLOURFUL WEDDING CEREMONY (WITH NATURAL SOUND) Initials AA/V/CT/EC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 25th May 1966 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Reuters ID: LVA8X8MAE1ZTDQ0TWYNF27U4DNN3
  • Story Text: MAHARAJA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA OF GWALIOR MARRIED PRINCESS KIRAN RAJYA LAKSHMI DEVI OF NEPAL ON SUNDAY. THE NEW DELHI CEREMONY REVIVED ALL THE POMP AND SPLENDOUR OF TIMES PAST.

    PRINCELY FAMILIES AND SENIOR CIVIL AND MILITARY OFFICIALS FROM ALL OVER INDIA ATTENDED THE GLITTERING CEREMONY WHICH RECALLED THE BEJEWELLED INDIA OF A BYGONE ERA. THERE WERE 2,000 GUESTS INCLUDING 50 PRINCES AND FORMER RULERS.

    THE ARRIVAL OF THE BRIDEGROOM'S PARTY WAS HERALDED BY AN HOUR-LONG DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS AND THE MUSIC OF SHEHNAI (INDIAN FLUTE) PLAYERS.

    AFTER THE NEPALESE CEREMONY, DURING WHICH THE GRANDFATHER OF THE PRINCESS WASHES THE FEET OF THE MAHARAJA, THE COUPLE WERE MARRIED IN THE ORTHODOX HINDU WAY.

    IN THIS CEREMONY THE BRIDE AND GROOM ARE MARRIED UNDER A MANDAP, OR CANOPY. AFTER THE CEREMONY THE MAHARAJA AND MAHARANI SAT BY THE HOLY FIRE WHILE BRAHMINS CHANTED VEDIC HYMNS.

    TOMORROW THE 20 YEAR-OLD GROOM AND HIS 18 YEAR-OLD BRIDE LEAVE FOR GWALIOR WHERE A HUGE PROCESSION OF ELEPHANTS AWAITS THEM.

    THE ROYAL COUPLE ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO ENGLAND SOON. THE MAHARAJA HAS ANOTHER DISTINCTION IN THAT HE IS THE RICHEST UNDERGRADUATE AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY - HIS INCOME IS SAID TO BE GBP90,000 A YEAR. HIS WIFE HAS RECENTLY PASSED EXAMS FOR CAMBRIDGE.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register