How Mughal India celebrated Diwali — from ‘Akash diya’ to Red Fort

Diwali

Diwali was known as the  Jashn-e Chiragha’n under the Mughals and was celebrated with great  enthusiasm. The Rang Mahal in Red Fort was lit up with diyas on Diwali  as can be seen in a painting of Emperor Mohammad Shah Rangeela  celebrating Diwali outside the palace with some ladies. The emperor was a  poet and Rangeela was his nom de plume.

The Mughal emperor was weighed in gold and silver, which were  distributed amongst the poor. It is said that some Mughal ladies would  climb to the top of the Qutub Minar to watch the lights and fireworks.  Fireworks under the supervision of the mir atish would be ignited  near the walls of the Red Fort. And a special Akash Diya (Light of the  Sky) was lit with great pomp, placed atop a pole 40 yards high,  supported by sixteen ropes, and fed on several maunds of binaula (cottonseed oil) to light up the darbar.