Makar Sankranti or Pongal is one of the most important festivals for a majority of Indians. In our family, we celebrate this festival as Makar Sankranti with much grandeur as it is also the first festival of the new year for us. When I was a child, my parents always made sure that I’d wear new clothes for Sankranti. They would tell me that if I wore new clothes on the first festival of the year, I’d get new clothes throughout the year. Well, when they put it like that, I was more than happy to wear new outfits. The tradition has carried on with my own children now. I always make sure to buy them special Makar Sankranti outfits. If you are on the hunt for ethnic outfits for this Sankranti, I’ve got you covered. Here’s what I’m loving this year!
Go completely traditional!
This is what I wore every Sankranti as a child for over 4 consecutive years until my mother decided I needed to change my style. Called Langa-blouse or Pattu lehenga, these outfits are simple yet classy. Traditionally, these outfits come with a solid colour blouse with gold border and white skirts with a similar border. If my mom couldn’t find the perfect Pattu lehenga for me, she’d get one stitched for me with fabric from one of her old silk sarees. But now that there are so many options in the market, you don’t have to let a good silk saree go to waste. If you want to go completely traditional, you can always go for a cute saree.
Lungi!
Sure, lungis might have become popular when Sharukh Khan and Deepika Padukone danced to the tunes of ‘Lungi dance’ in ‘Chennai Express’. But this outfit has been a quintessential part of every South Indian man’s wardrobe for decades. According to both my sons, lungis are incredibly comfortable. Even though they wouldn’t want to wear it every day, it makes for the perfect outfit for Sankranti and other festivals.
Pongal 2020 with a little bit of spice!
Traditional doesn’t have to be boring. Adding a contemporary twist to a simple ethnic outfit can do wonders. Of lately, I’ve been loving ethnic outfits that come with modern detail. Be it cold-shoulder lehengas like the one in the image or a halter-neck ethnic outfit, it is nice to have a few fusion pieces in your child’s wardrobe.
Dhoti Kurtas
I believe in having a few staple pieces, be it for myself or my kids. One such staple piece that’s there in both my boys’ wardrobes is a dhoti kurta set. A few, actually. They are quite comfortable and are perfect for both festivals and weddings.
Tip: Purchase a solid set and a printed set. This way, you can mix and match and create more outfits.
Still not sure? Don’t worry, this curated collection might help you pick out the best outfit for your child!
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