Babur Feasting Analysis

On occasions, common people were indeed included in the feasts, as well. The sources of Babur’s reign do not mention any such event, but those of the reign of Humayun and Akbar mentions feast where people from all classes became a part of the celebration. A much-demarcated private banqueting hall was held open to the public hall of audience to highlight the benevolent and paternal attitude of the king where he did not select people for the invitation, but almost anyone could turn up to share in the festivities. Indeed, as Hirschman puts it, commensality actually ‘melds the public and private spheres.’ Often, various amirs and nobles were praised for their open table. Repeatedly, we see that victory in a battle was celebrated with a lot

Further, they argue that feasts have a peculiar power in expressing social relations and the dramaturgical effects usually associated with feasting [e.g. singing, dancing, inebriation, oratorical displays] underline the ritual nature of these events and creates space for other important social transactions and alliances. There are many instances when a feast was held to reinforce an alliance, initially instituted by ties of friendship, matrimonial relations or political negotiations. Nobles held parties in honour of the king and his presence at their parties increased their status and enhanced their chances of improving their position in the social and political hierarchies. In fact, realizing the political significance of the feasts, Akbar instructed his nobles to arrange a sumptuous feast, Ash-i-hayat [Food of Life] on their

Richard Eaton points out how from the emperor down to the lowest servant, parties were bound together by mutual obligations, articulated through the ideology of salt [namak] in the Mughal political culture. Salt has always been one of the most necessary components in culinary use. Because of its powers of preservation, salt was considered a symbol of durability that led to its use in covenants and it symbolized an obligation to fidelity, friendship and loyalty. Similarly, food symbolism was used to portray other kind of comportments such as cheating and treachery, forgiveness and things like greed and