Women

Women in the Delhi Sultanate worked hard every day. Most women cooked, cleaned, fetched water, cared for children, and helped on farms by planting and harvesting crops. In towns, some women worked as weavers or sellers in markets. Others worked as servants or musicians. Their work was very important to family and community life.

Purdah was a custom followed by some women during the Delhi Sultanate, especially in wealthy or royal families. It meant that women stayed mostly inside the home or wore clothing that covered their face and body when they went outside. The idea of purdah was about privacy and modesty — it was believed that women should be protected and not seen by strangers.

Not all women followed purdah. Many poor and working women had jobs outside the home, such as farming, selling goods, or carrying water, and could not stay hidden. Purdah was more common among rich families who could afford to keep women inside.