Last year around this time I was a guest at the coronation ceremony of the prince of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
One does not hear of a coronation every day nor many times in a century so this was a lifetime experience.
As a tourist to Rajasthan, I was staying in the heritage hotel in the Fort of Jaisalmer on January 12, 2021, and come to know about this ceremony.
Jaisalmer is a living fort meaning the general public has actually been living here along with the royals since the 12th century when the fort was built. The only other example of a living fort in the world is the walled city of Carcassonne in France.
The preparations began the previous night when the royal palace inside the fort was illuminated and the workforce prepared the stage and other decorations for the main ceremony the next day.
The state flag of Jaisalmer was hoisted all over the fort along with other decorations.
Entertainment in the form of dance and song was provided by the top and well-known artists in the princely state.
The streets of the fort which are busy with tourists and residents all day and well into the late-night now wore a deserted look since everyone was at the palace busy preparing or helping for the coronation of their beloved king.
The next day the mood was festive and people in their best attires started arriving by foot via the fort’s main entrance.
The kings and queens and the princes and princesses of nearby kingdoms arrived by car. There were about 540 such small and large kingdoms in India in 1947 when the British left.
All over the city of Jaisalmer the shopkeepers and the residents placed banners welcoming the guests for the ceremony.
The royal palace was shining with glory in the golden sunlight of a cool winter morning of Rajasthan, the temperature being a pleasant 18°C
The dance troupes in their most colorful dresses arrived and set in the celebration mood. Also accompanying them were Bagpipers, and other artists playing the harmonium, the trumpet, dholak, violin, and the shehnai, all seen standing on the katta platform on the far side.
Both men and women dancers performed the famous Ghoomar and Kalbeliya dance forms from Rajasthan.
The stage was set and the main canopy and throne for the King were ready. The courtiers and invited royal dignitaries had taken their seats on the stepped stage.
The women folk waited patiently indulging in gossip and small talk while others including me were busy capturing the festive mood and ambaince in the camera.
The kids too took the steps of the temple and had their best winter attire on while some ladies were seen on the temple roof enjoying a cool breeze of wind under beautiful royal umbrellas meant for decorations.
Everyone in the public was waiting for the Pooja and other rituals to be completed which were being performed inside the palace and LIVE telecast over a large screen outside.
Soon the main royal priest, Raj Purohit, in saffron wardrobes, arrived at the door after finishing the pooja inside the palace and blow the conch shell announcing the arrival of the prince.
After this, prince Chaitanya Raj Singh arrived from the royal palace. This was the most awaited moment since the people have not seen their prince for many years now. He has now grown up into a fine young man since the last time anyone had seen him accompanying his late father, the king of the Jaisalmer state.
The prince then climbed up the stage and took the high seat and was announced the new king of the state of Jaisalmer of Rajasthan in India.
The people wearing turbans of different colors and hues symbolizing their trades and social status salted the king with the closed hands Indian Namaskar 
and the newly coronated king acknowledged by standing up and joined his hands to greet his subjects.
After this, the new King Maharaj Chaitnya Raj Singh went back to his palace and we proceed to the free royal buffet. More on that in another post - exclusively on LG Connect.
All-in-All it was charged atmosphere at the coronation ceremony and a lifetime experience at a royal event that occurred in serendipity during the trip of Rajasthan.
The news of this coronation ceremony was published in all major newspapers in India and also globally besides the episode being telecast live on various TV channels.
Where to Stay
I stayed in the Sagar Guest House inside the Jaisalmer Fort.
This place also got a rooftop restaurant with an amazing view of the city, palace, and the desert.
Other Attractions in Jaisalmer
