The history of Christmas in India is often discussed starting from the British Raj, but the truth is that the celebration of Christmas had started in India much earlier, during the time of the Mughal Empire. During the era of Mughal emperors, Christmas was not only celebrated by the people of the Christian community, but this festival also emerges as an example of the culture, diplomacy and religious tolerance of the royal court.
We all know that Christmas is celebrated all over the world on 25 December, but let us know how Christmas was celebrated during the Mughal period, what kind of protection it received from the royal court, and how this festival reflected the religious and cultural atmosphere of that time.
Presence of Christians in the Mughal court
During the time of the Mughal Empire, especially during the reign of Akbar, Jahangir and Shahjahan, European missionaries, traders and travelers came to India in large numbers. Many Christian missionaries were included in these. These missionaries not only propagated their religion, but were also respected in the court due to their knowledge of astronomy, painting, architecture, medicine and languages. Along with this, they continued celebrating their religious festivals, Easter, Christmas etc. on Indian soil also. Mughal emperors generally gave religious freedom to the Christian community. He did not become an obstacle in organizing their churches, monasteries and festivals, but many times he himself participated in these occasions and encouraged them.
Mughal emperor Akbar had special interest in Christian festivals. Photo: Getty Images
Akbar and the beginning of Christmas
The reign of Akbar (1556-1605) is known for religious tolerance and respect for all religions. He built a prayer hall in Fatehpur Sikri, where scholars of different religions used to debate and communicate among themselves. In this environment, Christian priests also joined the court and brought their religious traditions. During Akbar’s time, priests were called to the court. They would bring illustrated versions of the Bible, paintings related to the life of Jesus Christ, and religious texts.
Akbar himself did not convert, but he was deeply interested in knowing what were the major festivals of Christians and how they were celebrated. It is mentioned in many accounts that on festivals like Christmas, there were special meetings in the court, where the Christian community would offer their prayers and hymns, and the court would listen to them with curiosity. On the occasion of Christmas, Christian priests would gift religious paintings or books to Akbar, in return the emperor would give them titles, clothes or valuable gifts. This mutual exchange also gave cultural importance to the festival. Although Christmas of that period was not celebrated publicly and on the streets on a large scale as it is today, its presence was evident at the level of the royal court.
Jahangir took interest in making and collecting paintings of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. Photo: Getty Images
Expansion of Christmas during Jahangir’s time
During the period of Jahangir (1605-1627), the activities of European trading companies, especially English and Portuguese traders, increased. With them more Christian communities came to India. There is mention of Christmas celebration in Jahangir’s memories, travelogues and writings of European travelers. Jahangir was particularly influenced by European arts and painting. He took interest in making and collecting paintings of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary. When Christmas came, Christian priests would offer special prayers in the court and tell the message of the birth of Christ.
European missionaries and traders often organized special feasts on the occasion of Christmas. Non-vegetarian dishes, wine, sweet dishes and European style dishes are served. Mughal courtiers and sometimes even the emperor himself would take part in such feasts. By participating in such events, Jahangir used to give the message that the state respects not only Islamic festivals but also the festivals of other religions.
There was no strict ban on Christian festivals during the reign of Shahjahan.
in Christmas Shahjahan’sRole
The reign of Shah Jahan (1628–1658) is often known for its architectural splendor and Islamic grandeur, but Christmas celebrations continued during this period too, especially at the diplomatic level. The Portuguese, Dutch and British embassies organized special services and feasts at Christmas. Mughal officials were invited in this, so that relations remain cordial. In the ports and cities where European communities had settled, midnight prayers and special Mass would be held in the churches built there. Then they would sing songs, light candles and read the story of the birth of Jesus Christ in a procession or small procession.
Shahjahan is considered relatively conservative religiously, but politically and economically he wanted to maintain relations with European powers. Therefore, strict restrictions were not imposed on Christian festivals; They could celebrate Christmas peacefully within their community.
What was the Christmas festival like?
Mughal-era Christmas was quite different from today’s modern, decorated bazaar, but some of the basics were the same. Churches were decorated with candles, oil lamps and flowers. Sometimes, according to local Indian tradition, a pylon made of mango and ashoka leaves is also erected. The tableau of the birth of Jesus Christ was decorated with dolls made of wood, clay or cloth. There would be night prayers on Christmas Eve and a special mass on the morning of 25 December. Hymns were sung in Latin or Portuguese, and gradually some hymns began to be translated into local languages or Persian.
Meats, especially roasts, sweets, grape juice or wine, and European-style cakes or sweet dishes were prepared. Often the use of spices increased according to local tastes, resulting in a mixture of Indian and European styles in the food. Christian families would gift each other clothes, sweet dishes, small silver utensils or religious pictures. At the court level, missionaries would present religious texts, paintings, or rare objects to the emperor, and the emperor would give honorific gifts in return.
Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
What did Aurangzeb and later Mughal emperors think?
The rule of Aurangzeb (1658-1707) is considered more fundamentalist from the religious point of view. He took steps like banning some non-Muslim festivals and increasing taxes. During the reign of Aurangzeb, Christian festivals did not get the same acceptance or enthusiasm at the royal level as before. It is mentioned in many European documents that the environment is not as open and tolerant as before. Despite this, Christian communities continued to celebrate Christmas in their towns, port cities and settlements. Prayers, feasts and religious programs continued in churches without much ostentation.
In the 18th century, when the Mughal Empire weakened and regional powers began to emerge, the influence of the European Company Raj increased. By this time Christmas had gradually developed into a more widespread public festival with British rule, but its roots go back to early contacts in the Mughal period.
Today, Christmas is a big festival in India, which is not limited to Christians only. Its historical roots can also be traced to those small but important festivals of the Mughal period, where for the first time this festival gained state level recognition on Indian soil. In this way, the Christmas of the Mughal era reminds us that the tradition of religious diversity and mutual respect on Indian soil is centuries old. Festivals of different religions, whether they belong to the majority or minority community, have been a part of our common cultural heritage and Christmas is also a beautiful link in this tradition.
Also read: How old is Christianity, who started the trend of celebrating Christmas?