Garba fashion evolves beyond traditional styles
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Across India, people are investing more time and money into their garba and dandiya outfits, moving beyond simple chaniya cholis to create elaborate looks for the nine nights of Navaratri.
Enthusiasts now begin planning their costumes months in advance, focusing on fabrics, jewelry, makeup, and accessories. Rutvij Mistry, a dancer and professor in Vadodara, Gujarat, expresses this trend through layered costumes and a preference for heavier garments, seeing fashion as a way to transcend gender expression.
People are experimenting with new designs and accessories, and online shopping makes festive attire available to those living outside of Gujarat, a region known for its textile production. Accessories like haathphool (hand ornaments), oversized rings, and even nail art with miniature bells are becoming popular additions to garba looks. However, not everyone embraces these changes.
Radhika Raje Gaekwad of the Lukshmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara works to preserve the traditional form of garba, which includes live music, simple steps, and intimate community gatherings. She also prioritises inclusivity at her events, welcoming participants of all genders and sexual orientations, believing that preserving the tradition means adapting it to modern society.
