Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is the most important time of the year for Hindus. Homes and cities are lit up to celebrate heritage, history, and the start of a new year. The week is packed with bright lights, delicious sweets, family time, fireworks, and vivid clothing. What exactly is this festival about and what does Diwali fashion look like? We are covering what to wear to Diwali and everything else you need to know.
According to Hindu tradition, Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Ram, as depicted in Ramayama. This epic poem is worth reading to understand the entirety of the legend. The date of Lord Ram’s return home marks the beginning of a new year in the Hindu calendar and forms the basis for Diwali. It is called the festival of lights because it represents the victory of light over darkness. Good triumphs over evil and the Hindus light up the night sky in a joyful celebration of hope. A celebration of new beginnings calls for a new wardrobe! Here are several exquisite Diwali fashion choices to wear to the festival of lights.
Black and Gold Anarkali by Ishka
Vibrant Anarkali
This vibrant Anarkali from Ishka has an orange and yellow panel with ivory Resham embroidered motifs. The edging has a resplendent gold border. The custom piece includes an orange crepe pant and an embroidered Dupatta creating the perfect Diwali fashion piece. This cheerfully-hued Anarkali sells for $1,200.
Georgette Floral Motif Sari
This lovely baby pink and fuschia Georgette Morif Sari is vibrant and resplendent, just like the festival of lights. It is the perfect answer to the question what to wear to Diwali. The beautiful sari has gorgeous Zari embroidery detailing. It comes with a matching underskirt and unstitched meter of fabric for the top. This beautiful Ishka design is available for $1,000.
Red Floral Lengha
If you prefer a lengha, this stunning bridal red Georgette lengha is a luxurious choice. The garment is bejeweled with semiprecious stones to make it shine and stand out. The ensemble comes with one standard Choli, one long Choli that is custom fit, and an additional matching Dupatta. The five-piece collection is one skirt, two Chols, and two Dupattas and perfect to make a Diwali fashion statement. The custom red flora lengha by Ishka costs $5,000.
Kiran Uttam Ghosh is a rising star in the design world, creating a beautiful modern version of traditional Indian wear. This red sherwani kurta and embroidered sharara set has a beautifully structured silhouette. The golden detail work on the yoke of the garment adds a sense of elegance to this piece. This custom set is the perfect answer for what to wear to Diwali and costs $424.
Silver Grey and Yellow Filigree Embroidered Kurta Set
Pair this stunning asymmetrical kurta with dark grey stilettoes to finish the luxurious look. This Kiran Uttam Ghosh design is a silver grey and yellow filigree embroidered kirta with an asymmetrical design. The color play and silhouette are modern and stylish. This custom made piece of Diwali fashion sells for $338.
The fashion outlook for traditional Indian women’s clothing is trending towards luxury. More and more Asian designers are embracing their culture and using traditional ideas as a basis for their modern and high-end designs. The six looks highlighted above show just a few of the bold and exciting Diwali fashion options available to consider before your trip to India to partake in the festival of lights. To learn more about the influence that Indian culture and art has had on fashion design, please see our article about the story behind Cartier’s Tutti Frutti design.
