Lakmé

Act 1
Deep in a bamboo forest, the Brahmin priest Nilakantha, who hates the British colonizers of India, keeps his beautiful daughter Lakmé hidden in a sacred shrine where not even faithful Hindus are allowed to come. One morning, no sooner have Lakmé and her servant Mallika disappeared into the forest than a group of picnicking British stumble upon the shrine: Frédéric and Gérald, officers in the British army, Gérald's fiancée Ellen, her sister Rose, and the sisters' governess, Miss Bentson. Frédéric tells the others the story he has heard of a mysterious Hindu beauty hidden in the forest, and the British ladies remark on the differences between such a jungle blossom and civilized women like themselves. They leave, but Gérald remains behind to sketch some jewels he has discovered in the shrine. Lakmé returns and he hides, falling in love with her instantly. When she discovers him, she is torn between rage at the intruder who has desecrated her shrine and interest in this attractive and ardent stranger. Gérald woos Lakmé and she falls in love with him, but her father reappears and Gérald flees. Nilakantha swears he will have vengeance on the intruder who has profaned his daughter and his shrine.

Act 2
In the market, the festival of the Hindu goddess Durga is underway. Nilakantha appears with Lakmé, both disguised as beggars. He encourages Lakmé to sing, hoping that the man who invaded the shrine and saw Lakmé will reveal himself. Lakmé reluctantly sings of a pariah's daughter who takes pity on a man she finds lost in the forest. He turns out to be the god Vishnu, who takes her to heaven. At the climax of Lakmé's song, Gérald sees her and cries out her name. Frédéric forces him to fall in with his regiment, but Nilakantha has noticed him. The Brahmin assembles a crowd of zealots, and when Gérald returns to affirm his love for Lakmé, Nilakantha stabs him. But Lakmé's servant, Hadji, divining Lakmé's feelings for the British soldier, whisks the dying Gérald away from Nilakantha's men.

Act 3
Lakmé has taken the injured Gérald to a remote jungle bower where she is nursing him back to health.

Lakmé leaves to obtain the water of a sacred spring, which unites lovers for eternity and would protect both of them from her father's fury. While she is gone, Frédéric discovers Gérald. He tries to remind Gérald of his fiancee, but to no avail; only when he appeals to Gérald's honor as a soldier does Gérald agree to go back with him. Lakmé returns, guessing from Gérald's expression what has happened. She gives him the sacred water to drink while she sucks nectar from the poisonous datura flower. Nilakantha breaks in upon the lovers, once again ready to kill
Gérald. Lakmé stops him, explaining that the water of the spring has consecrated Gérald, making him sacred even to Nilakantha. She dies in his place to atone for his sacrilege.