International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://edupediapublications.org/journals Volume 05 Issue 04 February 2018

Fairs and Festivals during the Qutub Shahi in Golconda M.Raju M.A. (HISTORY) Abstract: subjects.He took keen interest in the The Golconda Kingdom came into diffusion of learning and patronised many existence after the disintegration of the Hindu scholars and poets, which also helped Bahmani Kingdom in 1518 A.D. Qutb Shahi him in uniting people of the different castes Sultans of Golconda ruled the Andhra and creeds. Out of affection for him, his Desha far nearly two centuries i.e., from Hindu subjects called him ‘Malik Ibhiram’, 1518 to 1687 A.D. Golconda was a vast ‘Vighuram’ or ‘Ibharamudu’. kingdom with fertile land and rich minerals The most outstanding personality resources, besides the agricultural land and among the Qutb Shahi rulers was that of forests. Golconda was blessed with Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah. (1580-1612 A. lucrative mines and other minerals like D), the fifth Qutb Shahi ruler of Golconda. pearls, diamonds, coal, agates, shabbier He was the most enlightened King of the etc. Qutb Shahi Sultans cultivated many Qutb Shah house. He was a versatile genius cultures in the Deccan region and they have a great architect, the founder of the well- respected all local traditions, customs, planned city of , a great poet of literature etc. . the Dakhni and Persian, and the ruler of great tolerance for all religions The local Introduction: language, Telugu received encouragement from him. The Telugu poets and prose The contribution of Qutb Shahi Sultans writers were munificently encouraged and to the Socio-Economic and political rewarded by him. The glory of his reign lies development of the kingdom is a high land more in his Cultural contribution than in his mark in the cultural evolution of the Deccan. military conquests. He was fond of local The sultans of Golconda introduced rich and traditions and rituals, that is why, he not noble traditions of art and culture together only participated in and sincerely celebrated with high ideals of life in the Society. These the festivals of various communities, in a sultans did not lag behind any contemporary jubilant manner but also preserved them in rulers in maintaining peace and security to his poetry. He was a romantic personality life and territorial integrity of the kingdom. and believed in drinking the cup of life to the lees. There is a saying in Arabic, Quli Qutb Shah (1518-1543 A. which means, the masses follow the cult of D.), the founder of the dynasty, although a their Kings”. This was true to a great extent foreign Muslim, when became the master of in the case of the people of Hyderabad. Due an independent Kingdom, adopted a policy to the active participation of the King in of religious tolerance with his Hindu many a function, the nobles and the general

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public also joyfully followed their King, rain, the King as well as the people which fostered communal harmony among celebrated the change in the season. The the different Sections of the population of scorching heat of summer was over and the the state.In royal palaces and gardens, these monsoons brought not only a relief from the functions were organised by him on a grand scorching torture, but also filled the hearts of scale and people who gathered there in large the people with new hopes and aspirations numbers engrossed themselves play fully in for the new year. and the Deccan as music and mirth and all round gaiety. well, being an agricultural country, and The occasion of the Basant festival.In his cultivation being the mainstay of more than Kulliyat or anthology of his poems, 80% of its population, the beginning of the Muhammad Quli has given’ an account f the rainy season is most important period of the customs, traditions and festivals of both the year for the cultivator, the agriculturists and Hindus and the Muslims. As Dr. Zore, one engaged in agro-industries. As such, this Writes in his book entitled ‘Sultan occasion was enjoyed fully by the King, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah’, the King used who was a lover of pleasure and all that is to celebrate fourteen functions in a year, in sweet and beautiful in life. He wrote poetry which not only the King and his nobles but for the occasion, got it sung by men and also the Public took keen interest.Of these, women of melodious voice accompanied by four festivals were considered as state dance and drinking bouts. The people festivals, in which the Muslims and non- followed the King led by their nobles, muslims, both took part with equal zeal. Amirs, Jagirdars and landlords. Conceptual Framework Since the King and many of the nobles Even though it was an official function traced their origin from Persia and spoke and there used to be colourful scenes of Persian as their mother tongue and originally military parade and the durbar with the followed the Persian culture, they, inspite of nobles paying ‘nazar” (offerings), yet it was their mixing up with the indigenous culture an occasion when the subjects expressed and loving the language of the land could their love and fidelity towards the ruler in not help celebrating Nauruz as a festival. the form of public meeting, gatherings, Essentially Nauruz is the festival of the music, dance, and sweets being distributed spring just like the Basant. In response to to all. On public buildings and bazaars, the toleration shown by the King and his lighting arrangements made as a mark of Persian nobles towards the indigenous respect and love for the king and as an act of festivals the people of the Deccan also jubilation on the part of the people. sincerely took part in this festival of the The second festival which was season in the same manner as they enjoyed celebrated officially as well as by the people the Basant. This festival of the season was was Mirag Sal. This was to mark the marked with merriment and enjoyment, beginning of the rainy season. With the first music and dance and social gatherings.

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Muharrum, if at all it can be called a The other worth-mentioning festival is festival, is a festival of sorrow and grief. It is Bathkamma, the local name for the goddess celebrated from the first of Muharrum to the Anasuya, or Parvathi or Sita. This festival in tenth day of the month to commemorate the fact, is like Basant. It starts in August- sacrifice made by Imam-Husain and September, just after the Ganesh Chathurthi, members of his family. They were put to all and ends in Oct-Nov on the occasion of sorts of trouble, denied food and water, and Dasera. This festival is celebrated to seventy two of them were killed in battle by commemorate the harvest of the crops. thousands from the army of Yazid.All People, in particular, women in Muslims, particularly, the Shiites, celebrate clad themselves in the best, wearing Muharrum all over India, Just as in marigold flowers in their hair, carrying Lucknow, in Golconda also, in the past, platters decorated with flowers, go to some Muharram was celebrated officially as well place of water, singing ‘Bathkamma as publicly. The first month of the Muslim Bathkamma Uyalo’ and dance to the tune of year begins with sorrow and in Golconda the song in excitement. This is a reflection under the Qutb Shahis. As the King of satisfaction at home when their granaries distributed to all of his servants black dress are full with paddy and their hearts with and money to perform several rites in Ashur mirth of today and hope of tomorrow. This Khanas, they, as well as the others, erected special feature of Telangana was enjoyed by Alums (standards) in Ashur Khanas, other inhabitants of Telangana, even though performed Majlis and Matam and distributed they believed in different faiths and spoke food and sherbet to the common different languages. The Kings and nobles people.Even the non-muslims took interest of Golconda must have taken the same keen in the religious rites, as it is clear from the interest in this public function as they took phrase‘Peerla Panduga’ in Telugu and in other public functions and so this festival ‘Ashanna’ and ‘Ushanna’, popular names was celebrated year after year on a grand for Hazrat Imam,Hasan and Hazrat Imam scale.Vazir Hasan, the author of ‘ Husain. Sultan’, a beautiful drama on the period of Even though there are a number of the Qutb Shahs, while describing this other festivals which were celebrated by the festival, mentions how it was celebrated Qutb Shahs, particularly Muhammad Quli enthusiastically stically by the pretty wheat Qutb Shah, yet since there are only two of complexioned damsels of Telangana near them which were very popular both in the the Langar Houz of Golconda, while the palaces as well as streets, and both among members of the royal family and nobles the Hindus and the Muslims of the period, looked at them from roofsand balconies of we, therefore, think it would serve our their palaces. purpose if we mention only two of them, SCOPE OF THE TOPIC: they were Basant and Batkamma.

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The Qutb Shahis of Golconda ruled relations existed between Qutb Shahis and the Telangana, Andhra area during 16th and the Marathas from 1672 – 1687. 17th centuries, covering the entire Telugu SOURCES: speaking area and some parts of Karnataka and Maharastra farms the area of study. PRIMARY SOURCES: OBJECTIVES: The sources for this study is available in various forms and available The objective of the propsed study are: abundantly. The primary sources taken into 1. To establish the Qutbshahis relations consideration this study are inscriptions, with the neighbouring state in Kaifiats, Formans, Tavelogues, and Telugu general and Marathas in particular. literary sources were taken into consideration for this study etc., This foreign 2. It also aimed to investigate into the travelogues viz., travels in mughal empire by details of the policies adopted by the Bernier, Story – De – Mogar by manucci, Qutbshahi rulers in safeguarding the Indian the 17th century by Ovington, Qutbshahi Kingdom from the attacks Thevonot & carrerri etc., besides these of the mighty Mughals. works descriptions, formans and Kaifiats 3. Lastly it is also aimed to find out and Telugu literary sources are considered whether the established relations for the present studies. with the Marathas, during the last SECONDARY SOURCES: days of the Qutbshahi kingdom proved beneficial to the Golconda The works published on the history kingdom or not. of Deccan with special reference to Qutb Shahi relations with Marathas. Proceedings METHODOLOGY: of historical journals and also taped for the It is purely a historical study, a study. These sources are available in historical method will be followed in dealing various places like state Archieves with the subject. The primary sources such Government of Andhra Pradesh, Tarnaka, as factory records contemporary chronicles, Hyderabad, Osmania University Library, were taken into consideration and also the Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad. Kakatiya secondary sources will be taken in to University Library, Warangal, Potti Sri considered for the present study. This study Ramulu and Telugu University Library, is primarily limited to the Qutbshahi period Srisailam. Most of these sources are in good from 1672-87. In this study the researcher condition and excellent stage of analysis the relations of Golconda with preservation. Basing on these sources the Maratha in detail. A simple methodology to researcher would like to work on present narrate and present the real picture about the topic.

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REFERENCE [8] Irfan Habib and Tapan Ray [1] John Briggsl: History of the Rise of Chaudhuri: The Cambridge Economics the Muhamadan, Power in India, Vol-III, History of India, Vol.I, New Delhi, 1984, Delhi, 1981, p.195. pp.405-406. [2] K.Jayasree: Agraian Economy in [9] Moreland, W.H.: From Akbar to Andhra under Vijayanaram, 1991. Aurangazeb, London, 1923, pp.96, 97, [3] K. Sundaran: Studies in economic 102, 118-122. and social conditions of medieval Andhra [10] Sherwani, H.K.: Op cit. p.474. (1000-1600 AD), Machilipatnam, 1968, [11] Tavernier: Travels in India, pp. 18-20. Calcutta, 1908, pp.328-332. [4] Dodwell: The Madras Weavers [12] Moreland, W.H: Op cit, pp.80, 81, under the Company, Proceedings of the 189. Indian Historical Records Commission, [13] Ibid: pp.54, 55, 79. 1992, Calcutta, pp.41-42. [14] Bernier: Travels in the Mughals [5] Arsaratnam, S: Merchants Empire, Delhi, 1968, pp.203-204. Companies and Commerce on the [15] Arsaratnam, S: Op cit, pp.110, 136. Coromandal Coast, Delhi, 1986, pp.99- [16] Bernier: Travels in the Mughal 102. Empire, Oxford,1914, pp.203-240. [6] Sherwani, H.K.: History of the , New Delhi, 1974, p.474. [7] Chaudhuri, K.N.: The Trading World of Asia and the English East India Company, 1660-1760, Cambridge, 1978, p.282.

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