Navratri has just begun, marking the welcome of Goddess Durga, and the air is already filled with dhol and dandiya beats as people throb in colourful and mirror-decked outfits for nine nights of the festival.
Gujarat and many other parts of India turn into one giant dance floor, and the days are filled with back-to-back dandiya nights, often making us wonder every evening how to style the dupatta or tie the hair. The classic shoulder drape is the most traditional style, with the dupatta resting over the left shoulder. Hold one corner of the dupatta and bring it diagonally across your bust. Pin it at the left shoulder so it stays intact. Let the rest fall loosely over your arm. If you like, add a few pleats near your left wrist for extra flair and pin in around your arm to prevent it from slipping. It’s comfortable, easy to dance in, and works with almost every chaniya choli. If you love sarees as much as lehengas, then borrow this style from both. Pleat the dupatta and place it over your left shoulder. Take the remaining fabric diagonally across your body and tuck the end into your waist on the opposite side. Let the pallu, the decorative end, fall over your arm. This style is a combination of tradition with a festive twist, and it’s a way to show off a dupatta with a rich border or heavy work.
