Mohabbat the Taj

While in Agra, I was lucky enough to see the show Mohabbat the Taj, a "mesmerizing dance drama" depicting the love story of Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Though the show was not  quite as epic as it the description led me to believe, the costumes were amazing. Luckily the theater had some of them on display, so I was able to look at them in great detail.

Below are two costumes of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. These characters did not move as much as the ensemble, who put on elaborate dance numbers. As you can see, the two main characters' costumes are very vibrant and richly colored, with great detail in the designs of their costumes. 

Many pieces of jewelry from the show were also on display. One major difference between Indian costuming and Western costuming is the use of heavy necklaces, bangles, and earrings like the one below. These are much more prominent in Indian costuming, and just as intricate and detailed as the costumes themselves.

Below are some of the other costumes hanging up. These are the costumes of the dancers, and therefore have to allow more movement. Still, they are all very brightly colored and relied heavily on sparkles and sequins to catch the audiences' eye.

These costumes are beautiful, but I also know they are not representative of all Indian costumes. Next week I will discuss the different variations in costuming and clothing in general that I have witnessed here.