durbar

plural durbars · alternative darbar

1. historicalA ceremonial gathering held by a ruler in India.

   He decided to stage a durbar on the plains outside the city, at which the Afghans would be able to express their loyalty to their new ruler.

   1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 175

   3 more examples

   Sir Salar Jung was proceeding to the palace of the Nizam on his bocha, a sort of state palanquin, in order to be present at the customary Eed durbar... when two shots in rapid succession were fired.

   1868 February 7, "Englishman", "Attempted Assassination of Sir Salar Jung...", Hyderabad Times, Vol. III, p. 41

   A month after his retirement he was summoned to a durbar in Rangoon, to receive the decoration that had been awarded to him by the Indian Government.

   1934, George Orwell, chapter 25, in Burmese Days

   Father had refused to see my brother privately and had chosen to speak to him at the durbar held to honour the victors of the Malwa campaign […]

   1997, Kiran Nagarkar, Cuckold, HarperCollins, published 2013, page 456

2. historicalAn audience chamber.

   “If you cannot gueſs, perhaps the bird himſelf may inform you, Madam,” ſaid the ſultan, who was withdrawing to the grand durbar.

   1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page 12

3. historicalThe body of officials at a royal or princely court in India.