What to Wear for Durga Puja and Navratri 2026: Red, White and Black Jamdani

Quick answers

• When is Durga Puja 2026? Mahalaya falls on Saturday 10 October and Navratri begins on Sunday 11 October. Durga Puja runs from Shashthi on Friday 16 October to Vijaya Dashami on Tuesday 20 October. Tithis can shift by city, so check your local panjika.
• Which colours? Red and white for the classic Bengali Puja look, white or ivory for Ashtami morning, black with zari or buta for the evenings, and bright colour for the nine nights of Navratri.
• Why Jamdani? It is handwoven cotton with the motifs woven in on the loom, not printed on. It stays comfortable through long pandal days and still looks festive.
• When should I order? Every AnaiYah piece is made to order and dispatched within 7 working days. Order by Friday 2 October to have it before Shashthi.

The red-and-white look, from Saptami to Dashami

Red and white is the colour story of a Bengali Puja. On Vijaya Dashami, married women play Sindur Khela, smearing one another with vermilion, and they are usually dressed in white saris with red borders. If a sari isn't your plan this year, these dresses carry the same palette.

• Sindoori Red Jamdani Tier Dress: our most-ordered piece, in the deep red of sindoor.
• White & Red Wrap Jamdani Dress: the lal paar palette in a wrap you can adjust through a long day.
• Red Jamdani Bucket Neck Dress: a simpler red for the days you are serving bhog as much as visiting pandals.
• Scarlet Red Free Size Jamdani Shirt: wear it over white for a lighter take on the palette.

Ashtami morning: white and ivory

Ashtami morning starts with anjali. A white or ivory Jamdani keeps it quiet and elegant, and it takes red jewellery or a red stole well.

• White Jamdani Smocked Dress
• White Short Yoke Smocked Jamdani Dress: one of our most-ordered pieces.
• Ivory Jamdani Khadi Dress
• Noodle Strap White Jamdani Dress: add a stole for the pandal.

Evenings and pandal-hopping: black with zari

After dark the crowds, the lights and the dhak take over. Black carries the evening, and a touch of zari or buta catches the light without shouting.

• Black Zari Buta Jamdani Dress
• Polka Dot Black Tier Jamdani Dress: our second most-ordered piece.
• Black Jamdani Tier Dress
• Black Buta Jamdani Co-ord Set: two pieces you can wear separately long after Puja.

The nine nights of Navratri: bring the colour

Tiered and pleated skirts move when you do, which matters on a garba floor. These are our brightest Jamdani pieces.

• Yellow Jamdani Tier Dress with Pleated Yoke
• Rani Pink Jamdani Co-ord Set
• Jamun Box Pleat Jamdani with Zari Border
• Wine Zari Buta Smocked Yoke Jamdani Dress

How to tell your Puja Jamdani is handwoven

Jamdani motifs are made on the loom with an extra, discontinuous weft thread, the technique UNESCO describes in its listing of the traditional art of Jamdani weaving. Weavers and craft organisations suggest turning the fabric over: on machine-made copies, the extra-weft threads are often cut around each motif. Read more in our guide What is Jamdani?

Made to your size, in time for Puja

1. Choose your piece and your size from the chart, or send us your measurements on WhatsApp. Custom sizing is free.
2. Our Bengaluru studio makes it to order and dispatches it within 7 working days.
3. Delivery within India takes 2 to 3 working days after dispatch, and shipping is free.

Order by Friday 2 October to wear it from Shashthi on 16 October. Ordering later? Message us on WhatsApp at +91 99901 38600 first, and we will tell you honestly whether it can reach you in time.

See our bestsellers · Shop the Jamdani collection

Sources

• Durga Puja and Navratri 2026 dates: samvat.in, checked September 2026.
• Sindur Khela: Wikipedia.
• Jamdani technique: UNESCO, Traditional art of Jamdani weaving (inscribed 2013).
• Handloom vs machine copies: Antaran (Tata Trusts), 12 July 2020.