When it comes to Diwali, rows of lamps, shining markets and the smell of sweets come before our eyes. Today’s India sparkles with modern lights, but even centuries ago, when there was no electricity, the glow of Diwali was equally special. History tells that the fragrance of this festival reached the Mughal courts also. The walls of the palaces of the emperors, who were often known for their Islamic discipline, were illuminated with lamps on the night of Diwali.

At that time Diwali was not just a religious festival but had become a symbol of the fusion of cultures. From Emperor Akbar to Muhammad Shah included this festival in their royal tradition. In the Mughal Sultanate, it was given a new name ‘Jashn-e-Chiraga’, i.e. Festival of Lights.

Special courts were held on the occasion of Diwali.

Akbar’s era was not only the golden age of Mughal rule but also a period of cultural co-existence. He never showed hesitation in adopting Hindu customs. During Diwali, every corner of Agra Fort and the streets of Fatehpur Sikri was illuminated with rows of lamps. Historian Abul Fazal has written in ‘Ain-e-Akbari’ that Akbar used to hold special courts on the occasion of Diwali. Royal banquets were held in the courtyard of the palace decorated with lamps, in which Hindu and Muslim courtiers used to sit together. His courtiers Birbal and Begum Jodhabai were considered the soul of this event.

The form in which Diwali is celebrated today with firecrackers and fireworks started during the Mughal period. In the 18th-19th century, the Nawabs of Bengal and Awadh patronized festivals like Durga Puja and Diwali and organized spectacular fireworks. According to Dr. Katherine Butler Scofield, fireworks had become common on Diwali by the 18th century. Some scholars opposed this festival and called it un-Islamic, but Akbar accepted it as a festival of love and light. For them, this festival was more than a religious ritual, it was a symbol of unity and harmony.

Between 1720-1748, Diwali began to be celebrated in a royal style during the reign of Muhammad Shah Rangeela. Preparations started weeks in advance in the palaces of Delhi and Agra. Innumerable lamps were lit around the fort and the fragrance of sweets spread throughout the court.

Shahjahan made Diwali more grand

Emperor Shahjahan made Delhi the capital and built the Red Fort and made Diwali more grand. He started the tradition of lighting the sky lamp. In the Red Fort, huge lamps were lit on 40 yard high pillars, whose light spread across the entire Chandni Chowk. The palace would be decorated with lamps, chandeliers and lampshades, there would be music and poetry gatherings in the court and the king would watch the lights from the balcony.

During the reign of Aurangzeb, the celebration of Diwali remained formal. He considered it the tradition of Hindu kings. Nevertheless, the royal families of Jodhpur and Jaipur sent gifts every year on Diwali and people continued to light lamps in their homes.

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Delhi Sultanate: Every street and every intersection of Delhi tells a unique story. Today we are going to tell you about the oldest and beautiful place of Delhi, Hauz-e-Shamsi, which is today known as Hauz Khas Lake. This reservoir is 800 years old. Let us know its history and the story behind it.

Construction of Hauz Khas Lake

It is said that Prophet Mohammad once appeared in a dream to Sultan Iltutmish. He showed a place in the forest of Mehrauli where his horse Burak had laid his head. When the Sultan woke up, he set out to search for that place along with his spiritual guide Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. Miraculously a spring of sweet water burst forth there and the Sultan out of devotion ordered the digging of a huge reservoir.

How did Hauz-e-Shamsi get its name?

This reservoir was named Hauz-e-Shamsi which means Lake of the Sun. It was named after Iltutmish’s own title Shamsuddin which means Sun of Faith. Its construction started around 1230 AD. Iltutmish had built a red sandstone pavilion with a domed roof in the middle of the lake. A stone was also placed inside it on which there are hoof marks of the Prophet’s divine horse Buraq.

Praised by Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta, the famous Moroccan traveler of the 14th century, visited Delhi during the reign of Mohammed bin Tughlaq and also wrote about this lake. Ibn Battuta had described it as a freshwater river. With the passage of time, different dynasties have left their mark on this lake.

During the Lodi period, a grand ship palace was built on its banks. This palace Panipat seemed to be floating, which served as a resting place for pilgrims and travelers. Later, during the reign of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Bahadur Shah II, the Mughals gave it a new look by adding fountains, pavilions and gardens. Today this place has become a precious part of the cultural and historical landscapes of Delhi. In 2023, local residents formed a group named Pride of Shamsi. This group, along with ASI NGO SEEDS, conducted a cleanliness campaign here.

The Haram of the Mughal Empire has always been a mysterious and attractive theme for historians and writers. Haram was started by Babur. Akbar gave it a grand appearance. During Akbar’s era, there were more than 5,000 women in Haram, including queens, mistresses, maids and women workers. In Arabic, harem means holy place. It was a complex where only the emperor was allowed to enter.

Historian Prannath Chopra writes in his book some aspects of social life during the mughal age that women of different religions and cultures live in Haram. Different parts were made for queens, mistresses and maids. The emperor had different rooms for special favorite women and disliked women. The responsibilities of women included grooming gardens, overseeing curtains and fountains, keeping shama burning etc. There was a strict arrangement of curtains. Many maids used to spend their whole life in harem, but could not even see the king properly.

Security and arrangement
The entry of men in Haram was forbidden, so women also used to do security work. For this, women with strong stature outside India were called, who neither came to the local language nor were interested in meeting anyone.

Salary and eye
A lot of money was required for the arrangement of Mughal harem. A woman posted in a big post used to get a monthly salary of Rs 1600, while at that time 1 Tola gold used to come for only 10 rupees. The woman soldier of Haram used to get so much salary that she could buy gold every month. Many women used to get more than their salary (jewelry, Ashrafis, precious items).

Conditions and rights of entry into harem
There were strict rules to be a part of Haram. Honesty and tension were very important. Haram’s woman could not go out nor could anyone come inside. Women had so much right that they could stop any man at the door except the emperor. The secret royal decree also used to stop at the door and the maids used to do the work of sending him to the queens or the emperor.

Development and collapse of harem in Mughal period
Haram was present from Babur to Bahadur Shah Zafar. From the time of Akbar, this system came in a systematic form. Haram was at its peak during Jahangir. In the era of Aurangzeb, along with the collapse of the Mughal Empire, the collapse of Haram also started and it gradually became the base of the color. The main royal harem was located in Agra, Delhi, Fatehpur Sikri and Lahore. Apart from this, harem was also made in other cities.

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