Mughal Administration c5.s4.2

c5.s4.2

And its need was very large. Twice every year, in the rainy season and the winter, a robe (khilat) suitable for the season was presented by the Emperor to every mansabdar, and the number of mansabdars in 1690 is given as nearly 7,500 who were paid in cash and 7,000 who held jagirs. (Z. 15a.) For the higher nobles, one suit of the robe of honour consisted of several articles of apparel. In addition to these two seasonal gifts, the princes of the blood, the vassal Rajahs and many of the mansabdars and Court officials received robes of honour at the two birthdays of the Emperor (viz., according to the lunar and the solar calculations), the lunar anniversary of his coronation, the two I'ds, and down to Aurangzib's reign on the old Persian New Year's Day, when the Sun enters the Aries (nau-roz). As a matter of rule, *khilats* were also bestowed on most persons when they were presented at Court or took leave, or were appointed to posts, and, for some time in Aurangzib's reign, on converts to Islam.