Mughal costumes (16th-18th century) and royal costumes of Jodhpur: a copmparative study

Abstract

A Comparative Study was undertaken to study the costumes of the Mughals and the Rulers of erstwhile princely state of Jodhpur and to trace an influence of the Mughals on the Costumes of the Rulers of Jodhpur and vice-versa, if any. The study included an analysis of the costume of the Mughal Emperors and Rulers of Jodhpur with a brief reference to the costume of the people associated with the court. The costumes were studied in terms of the upper and lower garments, waistband, headgear, draped garment, footwear, jewellery and accessories. The study also included developing a catalogue of a representative sample of the Historic Costumes of men and women of the Mehrangarh Fort Museum, Jodhpur. The data was collected using the purposive sampling technique. The interview schedule supplemented with observation technique was used for data collection. The interview schedule was administered on a representative sample of 32 people. These included directors and Curators of Museums, Historians, Renowned Authors and Scholars related to the subject, member related to the Royal Family of Jodhpur, Folk Singers in Jodhpur; and a Tailor whose family is associated for several generations with the royal family of Jodhpur. The observation technique was used to study the Costumes of the Mughal Emperors and the Rulers of Jodhpur through Miniature Paintings of the Mughals and Miniatures Paintings of Marwar i.e., Jodhpur respectively and historic costumes of the Mehrangarh Fort Museum, Jodhpur. India with its great size, its wide climate and geographical differences and diversity of ethnic groups has been invaded and conquered by foreign people at different periods of time and in varying numbers. The Mughals (1526 1858) came to India during the 16th century. They came to India first in sporadic raids and later on as conquerors and settlers. Though, Babur is regarded as the founder of the Mughal Dynasty, it was Emperor Akbar who consolidated the Mughal Empire in India.