The Zenana system dates its beginnings to the Mughal period. As a sign of status and respectability during the Mughal era, the practice of secluding women in a separate area of the home was promoted. A fundamental component of the Zenana tradition was the idea of Pardah, which means veil or curtain. Women were supposed to conceal their faces or wear veils while with men who were not family members.

Zenana Meaning

In India, throughout medieval times, the Zenana system was widely used. “Zenana” comes from the Persian language and means “a place for women.” As it was believed that women were meant to be limited to the home realm and were not meant to be seen or heard by strangers, this system was largely developed to separate women from males. Although it was more common among the upper classes, the Zenana system was imposed across all social and economic groups.