Marriage Procession of Dara Shikoh

The Mughals gifted India several things that are worth cherishing forever. From the exceptional architecture of monuments to the detailed miniature paintings of the Mughal Empire, all these things put people in awe. In the history of Mughal paintings, the Marriage Procession of Dara Shikoh is among the most famous Mughal art.

The painting of Marriage Procession of Dara Shikoh, Image source- INDIAN CULTURE

Paintings have always piqued our interest with their vibrant colours and meticulous details. With the ravages of time, they have evolved a lot. However, the paintings of the past hold a different charm, especially the Mughal paintings. These works of art are used as miniatures, either as individual pieces to be saved in albums*(muraqqa)* or as book illustrations.

The origin of Mughal paintings dates back to the 16th to 18th centuries. They very much resemble Persian miniature paintings. The themes of the paintings included battles, hunts, legends, mythology, and royalty. These paintings also depicted the stories of the royal lives of the emperors.

Sticking to the themes of the typical Mughal paintings, the famous painting, “Marriage Procession of Dara Shikoh,” illustrates the big fat royal wedding of Shah Jahan’s son, Dara Shikoh. The period of its creation dates back from 1740 to 1750 CE.

The lavish wedding is beautifully captured on the canvas. Dara Shikoh is depicted at the centre on a decorated horse. The groom is shown wearing an elaborately embellished Kabayi, or tunic, and a Sehra (aveil made up of pearls) wrapped over his head. He holds a handkerchief in one hand and the reins in the other. The beloved son of Emperor Shah Jahan is accompanied by his father alongside him on a remarkable horse, wearing a golden halo around his head. Imperial family members, nobles, and elephants are shown being welcomed by the bride's side with candles and fireworks.

Like most Mughal paintings, this art is a miniature painting painted on paper. The small painting has vivid and vibrant colours, minute details, and attractive jewellery outfit designs. The edge is decorated with floral motifs, which gives the whole painting a very elegant look.

The artwork was created a century and a half after the incident, tracing the Mughal's splendour back to its height. Unfortunately, the artist of this magnificent art is unknown to the world.

If we trace back the history of the incident, it was the marriage of Dara Shikoh with his wife Nadira Banu Begum, daughter of Prince Parwez. It is evident that Princess Jahanara arranged this wedding for her brother. It cost close to thirty-two lakh rupees to throw this extravagant wedding. Jahanara also contributed a major sum of money to this opulent marriage.

This signature Mughal art form was so popular that it crossed the boundary of the empire and ended up in many Indian courts. Even the Victoria and Albert Museum in London houses a large number of impressive Mughal paintings. Today, this grand wedding pictured on the canvas is kept at the National Museum, New Delhi, for display.