Games, Sports, Festivals and other Pastimes of the People of India (1000-1526 A.D.)

This work is an attempt to present an account of North Indian Games, Sports, festivals and other pastimes from the time of the first invasion of Mahmud off Ghazni to the advent of the Mughals under Babar in 1526 A.D. The writers of Medieval Indian History specify two aspects of social life, razm or warfare and bazm or social pleasure. The whole work has been divided into five chapters with a conclusion. The author has made an intensive study of the period of Delhi Sultunate and has made a detailed bibliography at the end using the translated Persian and Sanskrit texts, besides the vernacular languages of Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Assamese, Gujrathee, Maithli, Rajasthani etc. He has also consulted the records of foreign travelers keeping in view the usefulness of a large number of secondary books. Chapter I of this study deals with various types of indoor games, sports and amusements of the rulers and the ruled. Chapter II gives an account of some of the important outdoor games and amusements which were prevalent during the period under review. Chapter III is an attempt to describe some of the festivals and pilgrimages which became popular among Muslims. Chapter IV is also an attempt to mention some of the popular festivals and pilgrimages of the Hindus during the period under review. Chapter V however, has discussed in considerable detail about music, singing, dancing and other recreations which afforded other suitable means of popular amusements both among the Hindus and Muslims during the period. Besides the period was also remarkable for the development of music, dancing and singing.