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Festivities are important platforms for canvassing fashion trend. In case of Bengalis, the occasion is none other than Durga Puja, the four-day long traditional carnival. This year don't be surprised to find Pujapandals and community halls to be turned into fashion hubs. The four day festivity will be graced with rustling silks, embroidered dhoti-panjabi, ever graceful kantha saaris,skinny leggings, capris, shrugs and ghagroos. The shops catering to Durga Puja Fashion 2007 are teeming with the latest cuts, falls and fabrics.

Following the high-tech colour trend fluorescent colours have invaded in the world of pastel and earthen shades. These shades do not monopolise western outfits but have also invaded Bengali garments including the Saari and Punjabi. At the same time there is revival of exquisite Indian heavy artistry like zardausi and needlework or mirror work due to constant success of Indian designers in the International fashion arena. The range this year offers brilliant shades of orange, heady wines and magenta to classic black. Varied patterns, symbols, embroidery and prints give a distinctive feel of glamour.

MEN
Fashion for men has undergone great change. From the paler shades and pin stripes it has advanced towards bright lemon yellow, violet, pink and green and the strips have changed to blocks prints and floral patterns. Kurta pyjamas, sherwanis, jodhpuris and designer shirts are very much in vogue for men this Puja. The matka Kurtas are good ethnic wear and the short kurtas with embroidered necklines and hemlines are finding great buyers. Younger buyers are looking for floral or rubber motif T-shirts. Boot jeans are more in demand while trousers in black, grey and beige are also finding good buyers.

WOMEN
Western dresses top the list with the low waist boot cut jeans and spaghetti tops doing the rounds. Some shops have flora embroidery on the sides and patterned jeans rolled up to capri-length. Smart looking leggings in cotton rule the racks in most of the shops. Knee length, mid calf or ankle length leggings are complemented with jersies with nets and laces and strings at the hems and frock tops in flares.A-line tops, frocks with frills, shrugs in crochet, tops with plunging necklines, a deep 'V' or a 'U' are the latest trend. Skirts in variety of shades in rust, beige, creme and black ranging from silk, cotton, chiffon and crushed silk are printed, sequined and beaded.Ghagroos, flowing skirts with embroiderd or beaded waist band in crushed cotton will rule this Puja. Kurtis are still in vogue. With embroidered necklines and beaded sleeves, Kurtis with zaris and
resham work are doing well in most of the shops. Salwar Kurtas this year will have western cuts with Indian embellishments in block prints and paisleys. Seqins,mirror works and beads are the embellishments much in fashion.There are sober stuff too in Khadi cotton, in rich as well as sober colours.
Saaris are all time favourite. In bright colours, in crepe and georgette heavily sequined, they are available in saari emporiums. Kantha work on silks and tashaars are always on great demand while Balucharis, Kora silks and Dhakai Jamdanis need no intoduction among Bengalis.


KIDS
Kids wear has a bevy of choice that it becomes almost difficult to make the right move. Bright coloured and cherubic, they line up in almost all the well known shops of Kolkata. Trousers are straight fits with 6 pockets accompanied with jacket or zipper shirts for boys. Younger ones will enjoy the spiderman motifed shirts. Girls have a gamut of dresses. mini skirts,umbrella skirts with lacy tops, capris, cargos, leggings are doing the rounds. traditional attire dhoti-kurta are selling like hot-cakes while ghagras with stringed and embellished tops are ruling the roost for girls.

The festive season in Mumbai is popular not only with the Gujarati community; everybody wants to be part of it. So before you pick up those colourful dandiya sticks, make sure you’re wearing clothes and
 accessories to match. You can buy them or rent them. It’s simple, and a whole lot of fun.


Nine nights of music, dance, worship…that’s what Navratri is all about. Though the 10 pm deadline dampens the spirit, there are still many reasons to go out there, join the club and rejoice. What reasons, you ask? Why, dolling up for Navratri in itself is the best part of this happy fest!
People in Ahmedabad and Baroda are so enthusiastic about Navratri that they get special dresses stitched for all nine days. In some parts of Gujarat, it is believed that nine different colours must be worn for nine nights. As per local newspapers, these are the colours for September 2009:

Pratipada - Sep 19, Sat - Dark Green
Dwitiya - Sep 20, Sun - Orange
Tritiya - Sep 21, Mon - White
Chaturthi - Sep 22, Tues - Red
Panchami - Sep 23, Wed - Blue
Shasti - Sep 24, Thurs - Yellow
Saptami - Sep 25, Fri - Peacock Green
Ashtami - Sep 26, Sat - Parrot Green
Navami - Sep 27, Sun - Purple

Navratri and Durga puja (worship of Goddess Durga) are very important to Kolkata’s tradition. The shops are all lit up with special offers running; its that time of the year when the locals shop till they drop!
Keep in mind that you’re up for a traditional dance and music event (dandiya raas and garba) where everybody is going to be at their traditional best, what with those heavy, glitzy outfits. If you end up in your rugged jeans and t-shirt, you’re probably going to feel like an outcast! So check out these Navratri dressing tips.
For raas garba, men usually wear a chorno - a dress consisting of cotton drawers, and a short top called kediyu or angarakhu. The head is covered with a vivid turban called phento. Bottoms comprise of a loose, embroidered robe called dhoti. The traditional male outfit is adorned with accessories like neck piece, bali (ear piece) and kada. The outfit, especially the kediyu, looks fabulous while performing garba. Guys who want to dress lighter could simply opt for a traditional kurta and pants. Add a bright stole or bandhani dupatta for that traditional touch. Wear mojaris to complement the outfit but I say, dance barefoot!
Girls dress up in a chaniya-choli which consists of three pieces: a blouse (choli), a skirt (ghagra) and odhani (a stole of sorts). What sets the chaniya-choli apart from the regular ghagra-choli is the rich design, embroidery and mirror/abhala work on it.