The blossoming flowers, and the cool and refreshing wind, let us know that winter is gone, and spring is not too far behind. With spring comes the festival of Baisakhi. People celebrate the Baisakhi festival on the first day of the Baisakh month in the Hindu lunar calendar; it is one of the most popular festivals among the Sikhs in Punjab and Hindus. The harvest festival, where people don Punjabi traditional outfits also marks the beginning of the Sikh new year and it usually falls on the dates April 13 or 14 every year. The festival is celebrated in every Punjabi household with great joie de vivre. If you are planning to celebrate this festival too, here is a list of outfits that you must wear.
Top Traditional Baisakhi Outfits to Wear
The Baisakhi is all about wearing traditional finery including the pagg and kurta pajama. Go the traditional route with these options and learn how to style them.
1. Pagg
You may have seen many Sikhs wearing pagg and there is something very traditional and beautiful about the way they tie their turban. However, the pagg you see Sikh men wearing with such grace on an everyday basis is different from the way they wear on Baisakhi.
Here’s How to style Pagg for Baisakhi Festival
The pagg is the most significant part of the Baisakhi outfit. The bhangra pagg is close to the one that rural people wear in Punjab. The look of the pagg receives a further elevation with the fan-shaped turla. The turla is made from one end of the stiff and starched pagg. A broad lace or gota is used to highlight the pagg.
2. Kurta Pyjama
An important dress for the Punjabi men on Baisakhi, kurta pyjamas are the chosen attire to look your best on Baisakhi. It comprises a long tunic called a kurta and is paired with loose-fitting pants, popularly known as a pyjama. Wear an embellished kurta pyjama on the day to steal glances. Sikh men also prefer to wear the Pathani kurta worn in pathani style. The traditional Baisakhi outfit dress also gets a modern twist to look trendy and classy. Some of the few colors worn during the harvest festival are red, yellow, and green. Traditional dress is still popular among both the young and the old.
How to style Kurta Pyajama for Baisakhi
Since Baisakhi is a festival of bright clothes, opt for bright and vibrant colors such as orange, yellow, pink, or green for your kurta pyjama. You can accessorize with a color pop and choose a colorful turban or dupatta. You can round off your traditional look with a traditional jutti or mojari. Even if you want to keep the look blingy, ensure you don’t overdo it. You can also wear a Nehru jacket over your kurta to give it an elegant touch. Ensure your look is simple yet classy.
3. Chadar
Women hailing from Punjab love to wear the chadar when they celebrate the Baisakhi festival. It is as the name denotes, a long flowing piece of cloth that covers the head and body. The fabric is made out of cotton or silk fabric. It is brightly colored and enhanced with embroidery with intricate patterns or designs. Decorative elements like tassels give a stunning look to the chadar. During Baisakhi, women wear it with a suit or salwar kameez.
How to Style the Chadar
To style a chadar for the harvest festival, wear a bright-colored suit or salwar kameez and opt for a maang tikka, jhumkas, and bangles to look festival-ready. Opt for different draping styles to stand out in a crowd; try the modern lehenga style or the classic Punjabi chunni style to elevate your sartorial look. Whatever style you choose, ensure you wear your traditional outfit with pride and confidence.
4. Kaintha
Women often love to wear colorful traditional clothes and accessorize with jewelry such as the kaintha to elevate their wardrobe during the Baisakhi. Kaintha is a traditional Punjabi jewelry piece that women prefer to wear during special occasions such as Baisakhi. The jewelry is made with gold or silver and looks pretty with tiny pieces of adornment such as coins, bells, or pendants. This ubiquitous accessory is often a family heirloom and is passed down from generation to generation. Wearing it during the Baisakhi helps women connect to their roots.
How to Style Kaintha
Kaintha is a choker-style necklace that holds a special place in the Baisakhi festival. Here are some ways to style it in Baisakhi. Pair the necklace with traditional Punjabi outfits like lehenga choli, salwar kameez, and Patiala suits. Don’t forget to make it bright and classy with colors such as yellow, orange, or pink. Ensure the traditional neckpiece gets the most attention, and keep the use of the other accessories to a minimum. Match the colors of the kaintha with your outfit to get a cohesive look. Experiment with different hairstyles like a simple braid or a neat bun.
5. Saggi Phull
Saggi Phull enjoys a special place in the ornament box of Punjabi women. Women like to flaunt it with great pride. They wear it on their heads like a Maang Tika. Sikh women have to wear it at a Gidda performance. The ornament can be of any metal and contributes generously to the overall “Baisakhi look.”
How to Style Saggi Phull
Saggi Phull is a traditional piece of ornament that adds a touch of elegance to any outfit. It is traditional and ornamental and you can wear it with Punjabi outfits such as Patiala suits and salwar kameez. The accessory looks best when you don colorful outfits with it such as red, pink, and orange. It is a statement piece and avoids wearing heavy jewelry with it. Match the color of your saggi phul with your outfit to complete the look.
6. Paranda
Paranda is a popular hair accessory among Punjab women. They love to wear it during festivals like Baisakhi. Paranda is made up of colorful silk threads and adorned with floral designs and tassels. Women braid their hair to match the paranda. The flying braids while performing gidda during Baisakhi makes for a stunning look. While modern elements have crept in, it has retained the traditional touch.
How to Style Paranda
Paranda is not only a part of the Baisakhi festival but is also a big part of movies, where actors sing paeans on the actresses’ paranda. You can fix a paranda in the hair in myriad ways. Whether you have short hair or long hair, paranda can be worn with ease. You can wear it in the same color as your outfit to make the look stand out. If you want to experiment, try contrasting colors to make for a compelling look.
7. Turla
A turla finds its pride of place in the pagg. It is an adornment on the turban that resembles a fan. If you have ever visited rural Punjab, you will find men with their colorful turlas moving effortlessly to the energetic beats of the dhol. The colors of the attire are bold, bright, and colorful to gel with the joyful nature of the occasion.
How to Style Turla
For males, the fan-like ornament that you see on their turban makes them look bold and colorful quite like the festival. At times, the performers prefer to wear a fancier-looking fan-like turla. It is often highlighted with ornate laces to give it a more festive feel.
8. Ramal
The ramal is the Punjabi way of pronouncing the “rumal” or the handkerchief. For dance performances at the harvest festival, it is tied around the wrist or the finger of the Gidda or Bhangra performance, which they flaunt and twirl with great gusto. The fluttering of the ramal enjoys a special place in the dance performances.
How to Style Ramal
Ramal is easy to style as it is tied around the wrist or finger and the brighter the colors, the more of the impact of the fluttering pieces of kerchief. Can you imagine a gidda performance without those bright pieces of cloth? We can’t. Thanks to the twirl of the ramal, the gidda performances come out as energetic and fun.
In conclusion, Baisakhi is a time to embrace traditional Punjabi culture and the harvest season. You can add a touch of vibrancy and color to your celebrations with these Punjabi traditional outfits and accessories. Accentuate your “Baisakhi” look, and welcome the harvest festival with energetic dance performances, sumptuous food, and lots of fun and laughter.
Also Read: Old World Regalia &Modern Vibes In Manish Malhotra Lehengas
