coat of arms: see MEWAR COAT OF ARMS.

Coconut Proposal, The: see CHOONDA, PRINCE.

College of Technology and Agricultural Engineering (C.T.A.E. College), Udaipur; in the city's northeastern sector, near the University.

Colleges, Technical and Engineering, Udaipur: see EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

Commercial College (Geology), Udaipur; on Guru Nanak (Old Station) Road, in the central eastern sector of the city.

compact discs: see MEWAR MUSIC COLLECTION.

Conference Halls, part of the Commercial Division of the MAHARANA MEWAR INSTITUTION TRUST. They lease the company's halls and look after all staffing and catering.

costume, Rajput hunting, (in past eras) a russet green suit with turban of same.

Cricket Institute, The, a Public Registered Society, part of the Non Commercial Division of the MAHARANA MEWAR INSTITUTION TRUST; established to organise benefit matches for ex-players.

Cricket Tourism, part of the Commercial Division of the MAHARANA MEWAR INSTITUTION TRUST.

crore, (Hindi) ten millions or 100 lakhs (1 lakh = 100,000), usually used with large amounts of rupees: one crore rupees = Rs. 10,000,000.

Crystal Collection, part of the Commercial Division of the MAHARANA MEWAR INSTITUTION TRUST; an amazing display on show in the Crystal Gallery, Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur. The Birmingham based company, F. and C. Osler had a showroom in Calcutta, where, in 1877, Maharana SAJJAN SINGH (1874-1884) saw and ordered a similar collection from the company. Unfortunately it arrived, in crates from England, after the Maharana's early demise. His successor, Maharana FATEH SINGH (1884-1930) left it in storage, still in its crates, and there it remained until (Maharana) BHAGWAT SINGH (1955-1984) put it on display (1944) in the LAKE PALACE, before transferring it to the eastern gallery of the DURBAR HALL. Items in the collection include a variety of crystal ornaments and pieces for everyday use, from fountains and vases, to dinnerware and delicate crockery, each a masterpiece of design and finish. Of special interest are silver beds, and chairs with brocade and velvet seating. None of it was ever used.

Crystal Gallery, Udaipur; the first floor museum overlooking the large DURBAR HALL, FATEH PRAKASH PALACE, Udaipur. Originally, this was the viewing gallery from where the ladies of the court used to watch special functions. Today it houses Mewar's famous CRYSTAL COLLECTION of furniture and objets d'art. A guided tour is available.

Cultural Venues, Udaipur (see individual entries for details): Maharana Kumbha Sangeet Parishad; Meera Kala Mandir; Sangeet Natya Niketan, Bhupalpura; Tribal Museum; West Zone Cultural Centre.

Curse of Mewar, The. Allegedly, there was a curse on the family that no male child would be born to a ruler - and many consider that it came true. NAUTCH GIRLS (professional entertainers: see also TAWAIFS) were often used for amusing the Court with their exotic dancing and acrobatic feats. During a drunken party attended by Maharana JAWAN SINGH (1828-1838) and some of his nobles, the Maharana is said to have drunkenly (and rashly) promised one of these lithesome girls (name unrecorded) half the kingdom if she could walk a tightrope from a village on the western shore of PICHOLA LAKE, across the water to the CITY PALACE on the east bank. An accomplished tightrope artiste, she accepted the challenge. To the consternation of Jawan Singh and his merrymaking nobles, she was almost halfway across the stretch of water, when they realised their folly. Because of the Rajput code of honour, should the girl make it she would take possession of half the Mewar kingdom! A sword was drawn, the rope was cut, and the poor girl, a non-swimmer, plunged into the water. The NATNI-KA-CHABUTRA, a small platform in Pichola west of JAG NIWAS (Lake Palace), is said to mark the very spot where she drowned. There is an odd sting to this tale: before she succumbed to the depths, she cast a curse upon the House of Mewar, that no Maharana would again be blessed with a natural heir. Actually, it is quite a distance across Pichola, which makes one wonder if there is any truth is this story. Nevertheless, some say the Curse of Mewar came true: six of the seven subsequent Maharanas had to be adopted. There had been precedents for adoption in the past, so maybe it was just coincidence that Jawan Singh, having no heir, had to adopt a son, his cousin Sardar Singh.