Dress Code for Durga Puja: Here is a Guideline to Steal the Show

The biggest festive season of India is right upon us with less than a month to go before we celebrate Durga Puja or Navaratri, depending on which part of India you live in. It is also the grandest fashion parade you’ll ever witness giving close competition to the world famous carnivals of Rio and Goa.

These five days are all about having fun and flaunting your new wardrobe. Choosing the right dress to help you stand out from the rest can be quite a daunting task. So here’s your style guide for this year’s Pujas.

Sashti

Kick off the festivities in something casual but chic. Long flowy jackets or shrugs in checks or floral prints are a hot favorite this season. Wear them over ankle length denims or denim shorts for a trendy look. Complete the look with block heels and minimal makeup.

Kick off the biggest festival in Eastern India with a casual yet gorgeous look [Image Source]

Saptami

Go for a little dressier look on this day. Pair a crop top with an embroidered long skirt or silk palazzos for a boho chic look. Complement it with junk jewelry, jootis and smoky eyes.

Time to put on a more dressy look because it’s Saptami

Ashtami

The festivities are at its peak and so should be your style game. Nothing less than the evergreen nine yards would do on this day. Opt for a traditional silk or handloom saree in vibrant hues. You can experiment with the blouse or choli. Highlight your eyes with kohl, tie your hair in a loose bun and complete the look with large kundan, jhumkas or chand baalis.

Nothing can beat a saree on Ashtami [Image Source]

Navami

With the end of the festival approaching fast, it is time to turn up the heat. Go for a cold shoulder dress with ankle length boots or a maxi dress with high heels. Pair it with Afghani earrings for an Indo-Western look.  Wear your hair in soft curls and keep the makeup fresh with colored eye liner and nude lips.

A cold shoulder dress is just the perfect fit to give you a cool look on Navami

Dashami

Keep it simple and traditional on the last day of the Pujas. Nothing works better than a cotton saree in the shades of white, gold or red. You can also wear a floor-length or asymmetrical Anarkali suit. Gold jhumkas, bangles and a red bindi and you are all set to end the festivities with a bang.

It’s time to get back to the traditional dress code on Dashami

Be it the stifling heat or the incessant rain, the mile long queues or the swarming crowd, make sure you beat them all in style!

• About the Author

About Mekhla Gan

"The whole world opened to me when I learned to read" and I have been hooked to it ever since. Suspending my own life, cocooning in someone else's imagination and in the process, living a thousand lives is for me the most exhilarating way of experiencing life. Books are what I turn to in my happy and not so happy times for it is in them that I find the words for what I have known all along..