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The glory of Awadh can be seen in the present day cities of Uttar Pradesh such as Lucknow, Kanpur, and Faizabad. Lucknow, in particular, owes a lot of its present day charm and infrastructure which includes fine arts and cuisine to the former rulers of Awadh, who later made Lucknow their capital.

Awadh was earlier called by the name Lakshmanpur Awadh and is termed as an ancient Hindu state that has roots dating back to the popular mythological legend of Lord Rama of Ayodhya who had gifted Awadh to his brother Lakshman. Therefore, the original name of Awadh was Lakshmanpur which was located in the outskirts of Ayodhya. Hence, the name Awadh comes from the name Ayodhya which was the capital of the Hindu Kosal province.

The Nawabs of Awadh were very lavish and opulent. They were connoisseurs of fine fabrics and jewellery which can be seen in their portraits. From the usage of finest makhmal or velvet, to mulmul or cotton- the royal robes of the royalty exuded grandeur. There attire had a very dexterous embellishment of zardozi or chikankari work. The Nawabs of Awadh were very lavish and opulent. They were connoisseurs of fine fabrics and jewellery which can be seen in their portraits. From the usage of finest makhmal or velvet, to mulmul or cotton- the royal robes of the royalty exuded grandeur. There attire had a very dexterous embellishment of zardozi or chikankari work. 

The turban of the Nawab was white in colour, having an embellished sarpech adorning it. However, the Nawabs were extremely influenced by the regal finery of the British and even indulged in wearing the Imperial Crown themselves. The crown of Oudh was a huge piece of headgear that had 12 pointed diadems all covered with diamonds with a huge centerpiece ruby.

The Nawabs of Awadh were great patrons of music, poetry, dance and drama. From the popular ‘thumri’ to the revival of kathak, Lucknow had become a flourishing cultural center under the patronage of the Awadh rulers.

Picture Credit : Google