What to Wear to Garba
Nine nights of dancing ask more of a garment than any wedding does. How a chaniya choli should fit, move and last, and what to choose.
Wear a chaniya choli you can move and twirl in for hours: a skirt with enough flare to open on a turn without swinging against you, a choli that fits and stays put, and hand work such as mirror, bandhani, gota patti or aari. Choose colour by the night, and pick made to measure if you want it to fit.
A chaniya choli is three pieces that have to agree with each other: the skirt, the choli and the dupatta. Get the skirt wrong and it does not fly. Get the choli wrong and you spend the evening adjusting it instead of dancing.
This is a short guide to choosing well, whether you are dressing for one night of garba or all nine.
Built to dance, not to photograph
The difference between a chaniya choli that works and one that only looks good in a photograph is decided at the waist and the hem. Too little flare and the skirt refuses to open when you spin. Too much weight low down and it swings against you rather than with you.
Nine nights is also a test of construction. Seams that survive one evening of photographs do not necessarily survive three hours of raas, night after night.
The hand work to look for
Four crafts belong to Navratri more than to any other season: bandhani, mirror and thread work, gota patti and aari. Bandhani is tied dot by dot before it is dyed. Mirror work catches the light of a garba ground. Gota patti is ribbon appliqué, worked in bands along a hem. Aari is a hooked needle that lays a fine chain stitch.
Choosing colour night by night
Many people follow a colour for each of the nine nights. We have set the nine colours out night by night, so you can plan the week in advance.
Made to measure, bought or rented
Renting suits a visitor who needs one evening and nothing afterwards. A ready-made piece suits someone whose measurements happen to match the chart it was cut to. Made to measure suits everyone else, and anyone who has had to choose between a choli that fits the shoulders and one that fits everywhere else.
For the family and the men
We also make chaniya cholis for girls, and kurtas for boys, in the same fabrics as the main collection, and menswear for the men. Families ordering for everyone at once usually find one courier works out better than three.
When to start
Hand embroidery sets the pace, and it cannot be hurried without it showing. Tell us your date and what you have in mind, and we will tell you plainly whether it can be done properly. If it cannot, we would rather say so than deliver something rushed.
Navratri outfit ideas
For women, 2026 is leaning towards soft colours by day — blush, mint, powder blue, lavender — and deep jewel tones such as emerald, burgundy and sapphire for the evening garba. Dual-tone skirts and a lighter, more breathable build are on everyone’s list, with mirror work kept small and dense on the choli.
Blouses are where the variety is: a classic fitted choli, a cape or jacket over it, a one-shoulder cut, or an embellished back. The skirt stays full, because it has to open on a turn.
What do men wear to garba?
The traditional answer is the kediyu (also spelled kedia): a short, flared and pleated top worn with churidar or dhoti-style bottoms, often in bandhani or with mirror work. It is the most authentic choice and the one that moves best in a circle.
Plenty of men wear something simpler: a knee-length kurta in a light fabric with a churidar or pyjama, with a koti over it for a dressier society garba. At this studio the men’s looks in Rang Raas and Rangriti are kurtas, cut to measure like everything else. Colour is the way to look planned: choose one that picks up the colour of the evening’s chaniya choli.
Questions we are asked
What should I wear to garba?
A chaniya choli you can move in for hours: a skirt with flare, a choli that fits and stays put, and hand work such as mirror, bandhani, gota patti or aari. Choose colour by the night if you are following the nine colours.
What is the difference between a chaniya choli and a lehenga?
They share a shape, a skirt, a blouse and a dupatta, but a chaniya choli is made to dance in: the skirt is cut fuller and lighter so it flares on a turn, and the work is mirror, bandhani and thread rather than heavy zardozi.
Is it better to rent, buy or have a chaniya choli made?
Renting suits one evening. Ready-made suits a body that matches its chart. Made to measure suits everyone else, and is the choice if you want it to fit and to keep.
Can I order a chaniya choli from the USA or UK?
Yes. Measurements are taken on a video call of about twenty minutes, it is made in Vadodara and couriered to you.
Do you make garba outfits for children and men?
Yes. We make chaniya cholis for girls, kurtas for boys, and menswear for the men, in the same fabrics as the main collection.
What do men wear to garba?
The traditional choice is the kediyu (also spelled kedia), a short, flared, pleated top worn with churidar or dhoti-style bottoms. A knee-length kurta in a light fabric with churidar, and a koti over it, is the common simpler choice.
What are some Navratri outfit ideas for women?
Soft colours by day — blush, mint, powder blue, lavender — and deep jewel tones such as emerald, burgundy or sapphire for the evening, in a full skirt with a fitted choli, a cape or a one-shoulder cut. Keep the skirt light enough to dance in.
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Tell us the date and who you are dressing
Bring the date, the occasion and how many people. We will tell you plainly what can be made properly in the time — from the studio in Vadodara, or on a video call from wherever you are.