Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s3.t3.30

c7.s3.t3.30

After the festival became generally prevalent, the Sultans were not slow to join in the celebrations. It is reported, for instance, that Sultan Firuz Shah Tughluq celebrated the festival for four days. On the approach of *Shah Barat*, he used to collect loads of fire-works and crackers. Four giant piles of these materials were reserved for the Sultan; one was assigned to his brother, the Barbak; one was given to Malik Ali and another to Malik Ya'qub. Some idea may be formed of these fire-works from the fact that thirty ass-loads of crackers alone were collected. On the successive nights of the 13th, the 14th and the 15th Sha'ban, these fire-works were lighted. The effect of the illumination, as the chronicler describes it, gave to the nights the look of broad daylight. Four big trays-full of these fire-works, accompanied by musicians, were distributed to the crowds of people who gathered to watch the spectacle in Firuzabad. During the night of the 15th Sha'ban, gifts were sent to houses of charity and other charitable institutions.¹