Sparkle and style Diwali fashions reflect festival’s light By: Romona Goomansingh Posted: 5:28 PM CDT Monday, Oct. 28, 2024 Last Modified: 4:36 PM CDT Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 Updates

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This article was published 28/10/2024 (665 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A special occasion calls for you to wear your best attire. Deepavali or Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is indeed one such occasion.

The five-day festival, based on the Hindu lunar calendar, is celebrated by Hindus around the world and is also observed by Sikhs and Jains. Diwali reminds us that the pathway of light can dispel hatred and ignorance to create kindness and knowledge in our personal lives and our collective humanity.

This year, Diwali day will be celebrated on either Thursday or Friday, as the new moon phase falls over both days.

On Oct. 19, the Hindu Society of Manitoba (HSM) held its annual Diwali Mela, or bazaar, at the RBC Convention Centre. The evening event included food stalls, a cultural show of Indian dances and music and a variety of activities.

Just as diyas, or small clay oil lamps, are lit during Diwali, the convention centre halls were lit up with sparkle and style amid thousands of community members clad in stunning Indian attire.

Surekha Joshi, a HSM board member and organizer of the best-dressed adult male and female competition, said, “We look for individuals who are suitably dressed, from head to toe, for the Diwali occasion. We look for traditional Indian outfits that represent our event, which is family-oriented.”

For female participants, the judges seek out a complete look that includes perfectly co-ordinated accessories — jewelry, handbags and bindis (decorative dots worn in the centre of the forehead). Other style accents they look for are hairstyling and footwear, she added.

While accessories don’t factor in for male participants, Joshi said often contestants chose attire that represents a particular region of India to catch the attention of the judges.

Besides sharing Indian sweets and extending good wishes to family and friends, another Diwali tradition is to wear new clothes and give them as gifts. Symbolizing a rejuvenated start in one’s life, adorning oneself in the finest possible way is auspicious at this festive time.

During Diwali, colour matters. According to Joshi, “Bright, cheerful colours like red and pink fit the Diwali spirit. You would not wear black for Diwali.”

The resounding Diwali message aligns with wearing lively hues to match the ambience— maroon, yellow, green, orange and royal blue are popular, as well as glittering accents of gold and silver.

Here is a guide to some popular styles of Indian clothing, many of which could be seen at the HSM Diwali Mela.

For women

Sari/saree — It is said the sari is the epitome of elegance. Saris can be draped in many ways from a style point and in the different regions of India.

The typical sari is six yards, but longer styles can measure up to nine yards. The traditional sari is draped with pleats in front and has the pallu, or loose-flowing end of the sari, either draped or folded over the left shoulder. A Gujarati-styled sari has the front pleats reversed the opposite way from the traditional style and the pallu is pleated and worn in front of the outfit. Bengali and Coorg-styled saris are very unique.

Modern influences on the sari have added wearing a jeweled belt or a cape over the attire. Various types of fabric for the sari — cotton, chiffon, georgette, rayon, silk — make a sari stand out. You would choose your sari and whether it has prints, embroidery or embellishments, based on the type of event you’re attending.

Salwar kameez — Often called a suit, this is a combination of a tunic (kameez) and pant (salwar). Both can vary in lengths and styles, from the most everyday look to evening attire. They can be simple cotton suits or studded with exquisite embellishments. A dupatta, or shawl, accompanies the salwar kameez. One popular style, the Anarkali salwar kameez, creates a graceful silhouette. From the fitted bodice, the attire flows freely, either to knee-length or longer to create a gown-style outfit.

Lehenga choli — This is a long, voluminous skirt (lehenga) and short blouse (choli), with dupatta. Modern-styled lehengas can be straighter-cut skirts and have variations to the blouse to make the outfit creative and chic.

Sharara and gharara — These two outfits can be called complementary cousins, hailing from the Mughal era. Shararas are free-flowing wide pants fitted at the waist, while ghararas are pant outfits fitted until the knee, from which it flares out. Both are paired with tunics and dupattas of sorts.

For men

Sherwani — This long, regal jacket is the perfect evening attire, style and sophistication in one. The jacket is typically embroidered or bejeweled. It is paired with churidars, long, tight-fitting pants that are gathered around the ankle.

Nehru jacket — Named for India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, the iconic jacket with its squared collar offers a classy, timeless look. The Nehru jacket has transcended Indian fashion and notably influenced Western styles, making a major mark on men’s blazers, shirts and outdoor jackets.

Kurta pyjama — This outfit is, in its simplest form, a loose-fitting, mid-length tunic (kurta) paired with trousers (pjyama). It can be dressed up with various fabrics and embroidery and made rather chic by adding a Nehru vest or jacket worn over the kurta.

With clouds of darkness cast over many corners of the world at present, the spirit of Diwali is truly welcome. It encourages us to light our paths ahead with peace, kindness and happiness for ourselves, for our family and friends and for our communities.

Romona Goomansingh, PhD, is an educator, freelance writer and author in Winnipeg.