khalat

Khilat, also transliterated as khilat or khalat, is a term used in Persianate and South Asian court culture to designate a ceremonial robe of honor presented by a sovereign or high official to a subordinate, diplomat, or guest to signify favor, rank, or recognition. The word derives from Persian خِلعت (khilat), with equivalents in Urdu, Hindi, Persian, and Turkish sources, and it appears in historical records across different Islamic and Central Asian courts.

In practice, a khilat ceremony involved the presentation of a richly decorated robe, typically made of silk, often accompanied by a turban, shawl, jewelry, or other gifts, and sometimes a sword or staff. Wearing the robe symbolized the recipient’s new status, favor, or authority and marked a formal acceptance of duties or allegiance. The ritual served diplomatic, administrative, and ceremonial functions, reinforcing loyalty and highlighting the ruler’s munificence.

Historically, khilat was prominent in empires such as the Safavid, Mughal, and Ottoman, where courtiers and ambassadors commonly received robes of honor during investitures and state occasions. In modern usage, the term persists mainly in historical accounts and literary contexts as a metaphor for the privileges and favors bestowed by a ruler, and explicit khilat ceremonies are far less common in contemporary governance, though the concept can appear in ceremonial or symbolic forms in some cultures.

See also: robe of honor, investiture, khilat-i ta’zim.