Kingship in India since ancient times involved many ceremonies. The Moghuls took these court ceremonies a step further, and kingship became more absolute and tied into the Islamic religion. Religious prostration, which entailed kissing the ground before the sultan or kissing his feet, was customary. The Moghul emperor Akbar (1556-1605) later introduced other forms of salutations such as placing the right hand upon the forehead and bending the head downwards. Court ceremonies were formal and pompous affairs. The officials and ministers were given fixed places to stand and a master of ceremonies maintained order and precedence in court. Amidst the imperial insignia of a gold mace and gold tiara adorned with peacock feathers, the chief usher proclaimed the presence of the sultan. Such elaborate ceremonies were intended not only for the glorification of the rulers, but were also meant to impress the local nobility and foreign dignitaries who regularly visted the imperial court at Delhi to pay tribute and present gifts to the king.

Like the Hindu rulers before them, the Muslim sultans were expected to fulfil important public duties. In the hall of general audience, the sultans heard petitions, dispensed justice, conducted state affairs, and received foreign guests as well as defeated enemies. Here, reports of ministers and officials were presented. Here too, musicians, poets and learned men showed off their talent and intellectual discussions were conducted. Proving himself to be less detached and aloof than previous monarchs, Akbar appeared every morning before the assembled crowd either at the window or the balcony. A typical court had not only its usual entourage of courtiers and literary mell, but also an assemblage of highly skilled artisans.