An untitled album of photographs from the Princely State of Rewah

[Label text below refers to the photograph in this album "H.H. Maharaja at Pooja 1882"]

This photograph comes from an album covering a range of activities at the capital city of Rewa, and views of scenery and buildings throughout the princely state of the same name. There are many pictures of the young maharaja Venkat Raman Singh (reigned 1880-1918): on his horse, with his courtiers, and most interestingly (as in this photograph) in performance of a kind of religious ceremony (puja) with priests and musicians.

The maharaja, who has a sacred mark on his forehead, is seen at front left dressed for the occasion. A number of attendants and priests hold yak-tail flywhisks (chauris), and one attendant holds a stiff peacock-feather flywhisk (morchal); these serve a dual purpose, both signifying royalty and appropriate for devotions to the gods, who are treated as royal figures during worship.