Celebrations and festivals were a lively aspect of court routine. They provided opportunities for the emperor to display his wealth and grandeur. “Rulers search for opportunities for a feast”, writes Abul-Fazl, “and make it an occasion for liberality and forgiveness”.

All celebrations were observed regularly with great glamour and grandeur wherever the court happened to be, whether in the capital or travelling between cities. Akbar also introduced some ancient Persian and Indian festivals, such as Jashn-i-Nauruz (New Year’s Day) in 1582 and the Hindu ceremony of Toldan (the weighing ceremony on the birthday of the emperor) in 1565.

On such occasions, courtiers brought nazr and pishkash (presents) for the emperor. The emperor himself awarded valuable gifts, conferred new titles, bestowed jagirs, promotions to high mansabs and increased allowances. Thus it was an occasion for the emperor to reward the services of nobles rendered during the period preceding a festival.

Celebrations also brought a happy interlude into the lives of the ladies of the royal palace. Singing and dancing girls provided entertainment at gatherings where these ladies met up and showed off their new dresses and ornaments. On these occasions the ladies gave the emperor presents while he, on his part, awarded gifts and increased allowances. Women of the harem and women guests were also given khillats or robes of honour and expensive gifts.

The most celebrated festival was Eid-ul-Fitr. The appearance of the moon was announced by beating of drums. The emperor went to the Eidgah in a grand procession, distributing money to the poor along the way, to offer Eid prayers with the congregation. After the prayer the khatib stood on the second step of the pulpit and recited the khutba. After praising the Prophet and the four caliphs he descended to the lower steps and praised the emperor. He was awarded the robe of honour.

Eid was celebrated in a grand manner. A special court was held and titles and gifts were awarded to nobles and princes. Nobles, in turn, offered nazr to the emperor. Jahangir, on the first Eid after his succession, distributed a large amount of money by way of charity. He sent 5,000 rupees to be distributed among dervishes and instructed that 50,000 to be given to beggars as charity. He further ordered that needy women should be brought before him for financial help.

Nauruz was originally a Persian festival, which was celebrated on the first of Farwardin (the first month in the Persian calendar) which marks the advent of spring. It was celebrated for seven days with great merry-making. The royal palace was illuminated with colourful lights and green flags and banners were hoisted to indicate the arrival of spring. A procession of the army passed through the streets, the soldiers dressed in colourful uniforms bearing glittering swords, shields, bows and arrows. The elephants were adorned with ornaments and carried howdas on their backs. “They carried sharp scimitars in their trunks”, writes Manrique, “with blades five inches wide. But while they present a terrific and awe-inspiring spectacle, in this respect they nevertheless appeared pleasing enough when one’s sight fell on the numberless flags and banners of varied silks of all colours which adorned the tops of their towers.”

The emperor and courtiers also dressed in elaborate clothes and greeted each other warmly. Monserrate writes about the celebration of Nauruz, saying, “Games were held and pageants conducted each day. The king himself was enthroned on a high golden throne approached by steps.”

During the celebration, one day was reserved for the public; on other days only nobles attended the court. Some of the nobles used to come from far-off provinces to take part in the festivities and brought rare gifts for the emperor and received presents from him.

In 1582, Akbar introduced a tradition that on each day of the festival a noble should arrange a grand feast for the emperor and present valuable gifts to him. The emperor accepted some of the gifts and the rest were distributed among the nobles.

A fancy bazaar was another interesting part of the Nauruz celebration: here stalls were allotted to different nobles, who erected beautiful tents and displayed interesting articles for the inspection of the emperor. Once, during the reign of Akbar, Mir Fath Allah Shirazi, a scientist, displayed instruments from his laboratory at his stall.

A fancy bazaar was also held for the royal ladies, which was called Mina Bazaar. No man was allowed into this bazaar and all the stall-keepers and customers were ladies of high rank. The emperor was the only male allowed. “The king and his begums,” wrote Thevenot regarding the Mina Bazaar, “paid often double value for a thing, when the shopkeepers pleased them.”

Jahangir, after his succession, celebrated his first Nauruz on a grand scale: players and singers of all bands and castes were gathered together.

Shahjahan, on his first Nauruz celebration, had the huge and large tent, Dal-Badal, brought from Lahore and erected in the courtyard of the Diwan-i-Aam. The inside was decorated with beautiful European, Turkish, and Chinese hangings. He bestowed jewels, ornaments, gems, robes of honour, jewelled daggers, swords, elephants and horses among his nobles. Alms and charity were distributed among the poor.

Alamgir abolished the festival of Nauruz whereas the celebrations of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha and daily Iftar (opening of the fast) throughout the month of Ramazan were given prominence. He did not allow even princes to observe Nauruz. On receiving the news that Prince Shah Alam celebrated the event he wrote him a rebuking letter, which said:

‘We are informed, from respectable and disinterested authority, that he celebrated the feast of Novroz this year, which the barbarian Persians keep. Let him adhere, in God’s name, to his own principles and customs, and not adopt new ones.’