I'm taking the maharaja: their title has long ceased to be valid, but wealth still accompanies them and they're not satisfied with just one wedding
This title, derived from Sanskrit, where "maha" means great and "raja" means king, is in India a symbol of power, prestige, and cultural heritage. Maharajas ruled their kingdoms for centuries and their position varied with each epoch, especially during the British colonial dominance. Today they may not have political power, but their lifestyle and stories remain a fascinating part of Indian history and attract the attention of the world.
The most famous scandal in India
The enchanting story of Anita Delgado proves that a romance between a European woman and a maharaja can resemble a real fairy tale. The young Spanish dancer was only sixteen when the wealthy Indian ruler of Kapurthala noticed her. Initially, she declined him, but persistence ended up winning, and the two passionately fell in love.
Their wedding in 1908 became a historical event: seventeen-year-old Anita, later known as Maharmi Prem Kumari, arrived at the Indian city on an elephant adorned with precious fabrics and jewels, as Buxcafe.sk. wrote.
As a wife, she lived in luxury, surrounded by jewelry and gifts that represented security and power. But even though she enjoyed a privileged position, her story did not end happily. She fell in love with her husband's son and the ensuing scandal not only shook her life, but also the reputation of the entire kingdom. Javier Moro processed her fate in the book Indian Princess, which reveals not only romance, but also the pitfalls of different cultures and the fall of one epoch of Indian history.
Maharajas Today: Between Tradition and the Modern World
Although the power of the maharajas ended in 1947, their aristocratic background continues to draw attention. One of the most famous young nobles of today is Jaipur's Maharaja Padmanabh Singh. Although his title is only honorary and is not officially recognized by Indian laws, much like noble titles in the Czech Republic, his social status and vast wealth make him one of the most famous personalities in India. Writes Vševedko.sk.
Padmanabh Singh is an athlete and traveler with a connection to modeling. He has collaborated with fashion houses like Dolce & Gabbana and regularly appears on magazine covers. In his life, he balances between tradition, representing his family at religious ceremonies, and a modern style that opens doors for him in the world of fashion and society.
The wealth that was once associated with maharajas from the past is not even distant from their lives today. The wedding of the daughter of magnate and politician Gali Janardhana Reddy is a testament to this, as reported by Topky.sk.
It is estimated that its cost exceeded a staggering 68 million euros (1.6 billion crowns). Guests received gold-plated invitations with LCD screens, hundreds of VIP personalities were transported by helicopter, and 1,500 hotel rooms were reserved for 50,000 participants. There were dresses adorned with diamonds and wedding rituals under the supervision of eight priests.
Such celebrations remind us that although India has moved into the 21st century, the mentality of a "royal" wedding is still present.
When the Last Maharaja Died
In 2010, India celebrated 63 years of independence, but the joyful anniversary was overshadowed by the news of the death of the last of the former rulers. Maharaja Meghrádží III, who once ruled the small state of Dhrangadhra-Halvad, died at the age of 87. His departure symbolically closed an entire chapter of history, the era of more than five hundred maharajas, who after 1947 had to hand over power to the independent Indian government.
Europe has long retained a romantic view of India full of exoticism, elephants decorated with expensive fabrics, palaces with walls lined with gold, Rolls-Royce cars parked in front of the courtyard and dozens of mistresses who supplemented the life of the royal entourage. However, the reality was more colorful. While some Maharajas adapted to the new era, others are remembered for their escapades, extravagance, or scandals.
Megradzhi III. was different. Instead of a life of luxury, he devoted himself to politics, banking, and later became a respected anthropologist. Therefore, he never indulged in the shame and scandals that accompanied other rulers.
The most extravagant royal couples in history
However, history knows stories that remind us of the dark sides of power. Some maharajas were known for their inexplicable whims. One of them had his race horse burned just because it didn't win a race. Another considered himself the embodiment of fertility and once a year shocked his subjects by appearing completely naked on the palace balcony.
There are also legends about rulers who resorted to dangerous intrigues. A certain maharaja reportedly wanted to avenge a British lady whom he found offensive, and planned to poison her with crushed diamonds poured into a glass of drink. When his intention was revealed, he had to abdicate in favor of his son. On the other hand, some rulers remained recorded as misers. Osman Ali of Hyderabad sat on a fortune that could feed the entire country, but lived in severe poverty. He only indulged his guests with a cup of tea, a biscuit, and a single cigarette.
Among the most famous weddings were the weddings of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. During his lifetime, he arranged up to ten weddings, which became legendary and contributed to his reputation.
Similarly, the Francophile, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala, who had a palace inspired by Versailles built, married six times. One of his wives was the previously mentioned Spanish flamenco dancer Anita Delgado, who adopted the Indian name Rani Prem Kaur Sahiba after the wedding.
From this genus also comes the former fifteenth chief minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, whose father, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala, had the iconic Patiala necklace made. His wife Mehtab Kaur was from a local noble family and together they formed another significant royal couple.
Among the most famous royal weddings is the marriage of Maharani Gayatri Devi to Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur. Their union was born of love: Gayatri Devi met Man Singh II when she was only 12 years old and Man Singh visited her family during a polo tournament. The wedding took place on May 9, 1940.
Another example of an extravagant royal wedding was the marriage of Maharani Sita Devi Pratap Singh Raa Gekwad of Baroda. The meeting took place at the Madras racecourse in 1943 and Pratap Singh was reportedly enchanted by Sita Devi, who became his wife after divorcing her first husband.
Among the more recent examples is the marriage of Maharajadhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Sawai Shri Sir Yeshwant Rao Holkar II and Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagjyavati Soubhagjyavati Sanjogita Bai, which took place in 1924. This couple, who were educated in England and possessed immense wealth, were the ideal partners, although the marriage lasted only 13 years before the Maharani died in 1937 from complications following surgery.
These weddings not only showcase the wealth and opulence that accompanied Indian nobility, but also the political and cultural ties that shaped the history of various princely states. Each of these events was a unique blend of tradition, prestige, and sometimes even human passion, which today serves as a fascinating window into the past.
The weddings of maharajas and their descendants fascinate the public not only with luxury and tradition, but also with the connection of various cultures. While Anita Delgado never fully adapted to India, today's young members of noble families, such as Singh and his sister Gauravi Kumari, naturally combine Indian traditions with a modern global lifestyle. Their Instagrams, fashion projects and charitable activities prove that being a "royal child of India" means much more than inheriting a palace.
Source: Buxcafe.sk, Vševedko.sk, Topky.sk, Aha.cz, Aurusjewels.in
