Tradition & Continuity: The Wedding Procession of “Peacock in the Desert”
Royal wedding processions in India’s Marwar-Jodhpur region combine spectacle and splendor with kingly prestige and authority.
The first gallery of Peacock in the Desert: The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India features objects that symbolize the griha pravesh, or homecoming procession, when a king would bring his bride home to Jodhpur. This installation provides a fitting introduction to the exhibition, highlighting how diplomacy, marriage, political resistance, and religion contributed to the desert kingdom’s rich, eclectic culture.
Hit “play” to learn more from Gary Tinterow, director of the MFAH; and Mahrukh Tarapor, senior advisor for international initiatives and co-curator of “Peacock in the Desert.”
The first gallery of Peacock in the Desert: The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India re-creates a wedding procession, complete with ceremonial objects and a video.
Elephant Trunk Cover, Jodhpur or North India, 19th century, cotton and silver-gilt thread embroidery, Mehrangarh Museum Trust. Neil Greentree, photographer.
Elephant Seat, Jodhpur or North India, 20th century, wood, silver, velvet, silver-gilt thread embroidery, gilded metal finials, cotton frills, enamel, and silk brocade, Mehrangarh Museum Trust. Neil Greentree, photographer.
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