How to Dress For Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights
Graphic by Meher Yeda. Images via @aliaabhatt on instagram, a1designerwear.com and ninecolours.com
Every year in late October or early November, Hindus celebrate Diwali, otherwise known as the Festival of Lights. This year, the holiday starts on Saturday, Nov. 14. Friends and family members usually exchange gifts, indulge in sweets dripping with sugary syrup, and set off firecrackers in the backyard. Older children help younger ones to light sparklers, and everyone dresses in their finest garb. Of course, this year will look a little different, but what doesn’t change is the meaning behind the holiday.
Diwali is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. Hindus across India cite a variety of passages from Hindu scripture as the basis for Diwali. In North India, the story goes that an evil king captured Sita, the wife of Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Rama saved Sita by building up an army of monkeys to rescue her. When Rama and Sita returned back to their home in Ayodhya, millions of lights welcomed them home. South Indians tell the tale of the Hindu god Krishna, another incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who saved 16,000 women from the demon of filth, Narakasura. When Krishna killed Narakasura, he allowed the demon one dying wish. Narakasura, realizing the evil of his ways, used his last request to make his death day an anniversary of feasting across the world. Because of the rich diversity of culture across the Indian subcontinent, Diwali has many more origin stories. The common thread is that good wins, prompting Hindus to celebrate with good food and great clothing.
Diwali is the perfect occasion to break out peacock-hued saris and lehengas, to throw on a maxi dress embedded with thousands of shiny beads that reflect the light from the diya. Here are some Diwali styles that never miss.
Crop Top and Lehenga
Image via @sonamkapoor on Instagram
Because this outfit is so simple in terms of cut, you get to pick whether you want the distinguishing factor to be color, like actress Sonam Kapoor’s beautiful scarlet set, a traditional print and shining silk fabric as shown on model Subarna Manikkaratnam, or even statement sleeves as shown on actress Katrina Kaif.
Sari
The sari is a classic for a reason. I grew up watching my mother and aunts drape themselves in bold-hued silk saris for special occasions and carry themselves with pride. It’s a tried and true party garment, especially when paired with lots of jewelry. However, make no mistake — just because the sari is classic, it doesn’t mean there isn’t room for experimentation. As shown by Deepica Mutyala, social media influencer and founder of inclusive makeup brand Live Tinted, a fresh hairstyle can really add novelty to the look. “Never Have I Ever” actress Maitreyi Ramakrishnan adds bold makeup and a tikka to finish off her look.
Image via @deepica on Instagram
Maxi Dress
Image via @therealkareenakapoor on Instagram
The maxi dress is great because it allows for maximum twirl when dancing. It also allows lots of room to breathe so you can enjoy feasting on biryani and laddoos without discomfort.
Palazzo Pants
If you prefer not to wear skirts or dresses, don’t fret. You can always pair palazzo pants with a crop top, button-down, kurti or kurta, or even a belted sari pallu. Palazzo pants are easy to find at clothing stores in the United States, which is always a plus. They also lend themselves well to being paired with statement pumps because the heel won’t get caught in any draping fabric.
Image via @mrjovitageorge on Instagram
Image via @bhumipednekar on Instagram
All these choices and I always wore a cotton kurta and jeans at our annual Diwali celebration. I mean, I don’t regret it. Sometimes you just want comfort. However, I do think it’s powerful, what with all the turmoil in our current day and age, to indulge every once in a while and throw on a loud outfit regardless of whether or not anyone is going to see it. Especially when that outfit is in honor of hope and the possibility of good things on the horizon.