<P> Jharokha Darshan was a daily practice of addressing the public audience (darshan) at the balcony (jharokha) at the forts and palaces of medieval kings in India . It was an essential and direct way of communicating face - to - face with the public, and was a practice which was adopted by the Mughal emperors . The balcony appearance in the name of Jharokha Darshan also spelled jharokha - i darshan was adopted by the 16th - century Mughal Emperor Akbar, even though it was contrary to Islamic injunctions . Earlier, Akbar's father Emperor Humayun had also adopted this Hindu practice of appearing before his subjects at the jharokha to hear their public grievances . </P> <P> Darshan is a Sanskrit word which means "sight" and "beholding" (also means: "the viewing of an idol or a saint") which was adopted by Mughals for their daily appearance before their subjects . This also showed a Hindu influence, It was first practiced by Humayun before Akbar adopted it as a practice at sunrise . Jharokha is an easterly facing "ornate bay - window", canopied, throne - balcony, the "balcony for viewing" (an oriel window projecting out of the wall) provided in every palace or fort where the kings or emperors resided during their reign . Its architecture served not only the basic need for lighting and ventilation but also attained a divine concept during the reign of Mughals . The jharokha appearances by the Mughals have been depicted by many paintings . </P> <P> Giving Jharokha Darshan from this jharokha was a daily feature . This tradition was also continued by rulers who followed Akbar (r . 1556--1605 CE). Jahangir (r . 1605--27 CE) and Shah Jahan (r . 1628--58 CE) also appeared before their subjects punctiliously . However, this ancient practice was discontinued by Aurangzeb during his 11th year of reign as he considered it a non-Islamic practice, a form of idol worship . In Agra Fort and Red Fort, the jharokha faces the Yamuna and the emperor would stand alone on the jharokha to greet his subjects . </P> <P> Mughal emperors during their visits outside their capital used to give Jharokha Darshan from their portable wooden house known as Do - Ashiayana Manzil . </P>

The practice of jharokha darshan to the public was stopped by