Durga Puja Dress Guide — Lal Paar Sarees and Dhoti-Panjabi

The classic: red and white

The lal paar saree — white or off-white with a red border, often a garad or korial silk — is the iconic Durga Puja look, especially for Ashtami pushpanjali and Sindoor Khela on Dashami.

Day by day

• Shashthi / Saptami: cotton handloom sarees (tant), kurtas — pandal hopping means a lot of walking.
• Ashtami: the most dressed-up day — new silk sarees; men in dhoti-panjabi for pushpanjali.
• Navami: festive wear for the evening cultural programmes.
• Dashami: red-and-white sarees for Sindoor Khela.

For men

A panjabi (Bengali kurta) with a dhoti or pyjama — white, cream or pastel — is traditional; a Kashmiri shawl over it in the evenings.

Tips

• Comfortable flat sandals — you will queue and walk.
• Carry a small bag; pandals get crowded.
• Many pandals ask you to remove footwear near the idol.

The famous sarees of Bengal

• Garad — white or off-white silk with a red border, worn for puja and Sindoor Khela
• Korial — a similar silk with a broader, more ornate red border
• Tant — light cotton handloom, perfect for hot afternoons of pandal hopping
• Dhakai jamdani — fine, airy weaves for evenings
• Baluchari — silk with woven scenes from epics, for special occasions

Jewellery and accessories

Gold or traditional silver jewellery, a big red bindi, alta on the feet and a gajra of flowers are classic. Many women wear the shankha-pola (white conch and red coral bangles) of married Bengali women.

For children

Children usually get new clothes for each day of the puja — part of the excitement. Choose breathable cotton for daytime and comfortable shoes; pandals involve a lot of walking and standing in queues.

Abroad

Many Bengali associations abroad hold the puja over a weekend in a community hall. A mix of tant and silk works well indoors; carry a jacket for chilly autumn evenings outside.