Ours is a country with great diversity when it comes to garments and attires. Be it based on religions, geographical diversity, cultural traditions or family customs – every corner of India showcases a wide variety of dressing and fashion at all times.
There are some clothing items, however, that have managed to penetrate beyond the boundaries of their geographical and cultural extent and have reached out to the masses, being adored and fashioned widely. Ghagras and Lehengas, for instance, have been associated with specific groups of women alone since historical times. In the present day, however, the scenario is such that the ghagra, as well as the lehenga, is worn all throughout the country with equal aplomb.
For someone who loves to don ethnic wear whenever they get the chance, both these apparels have something special in-store. The ghagra and the lehenga are often referred to as synonyms, however, there lies a subtle difference between the two. While the ghagra is worn by women either regularly or frequently, the lehenga is apparel reserved for special occasions. The ghagra is much lighter compared to the lehenga, and there are certain variations of it which come at a very low price compared to the generally fairly expensive lehenga.
When to wear the ghagra
For someone who doesn’t don the ghagra as part of their customary lifestyle, wearing one can lend a special feel. The ghagra comprises chiefly of a loose skirt, with a matching blouse, with or without a dupatta along. The skirt is usually flared and lightweight and comes in breathable fabric.
This makes the ghagra an ideal choice for occasions like minor family functions or festivals like the Raksha Bandhan and Diwali, where you do not want your costume to weigh you down, yet want to look your ethnic best. Besides, the ghagra can be an ideal choice for several college and office events, say a fest at your college or a festive celebration at the office. The ghagra usually comes in bright and peppy colours, which make your overall personality shine through.
Accessorizing the ghagra is an equally important step. Since ghagras are light and are the preferred attire for occasions that are not too glamorous, the accessories need to be on similar lines. Go for lighter accessories, even if you go for bigger ones. Try keeping them minimal though – do not put on both a neckpiece and earrings together (it is better to go with either alone).
The ghagra is also known as the chaniya choli in most parts of the country. It comes usually only in two styles – a classic style and a contemporary style. This is because the garment is still considered a conservative and traditional garment for women in different parts of the country. It is an item of daily wear for most women in the traditional houses of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
This has not deterred the chaniya choli or the ghagra choli to evolve over time. These days even movie celebrities are inspiring fashion in form of the ghagra choli look, and more and more variations – such as the backless blouse, the beading and embellishments, and the fun with sleeves – is coming up in the market. If anyone thinks the ghagra choli is boring enough to be ignored to a modern-day function, they need to revisit a few popular stores to see fresh and gorgeous designs that can completely transform their look.
When to wear the Lehenga
The lehenga is favourite among women of all ages simply because it is one of the most gorgeous apparels to don on a special occasion. The lehenga is much heavier when compared to the saree or the ghagra, with which it is often confused. The lehenga too consists of the same dress parts – the blouse, the skirt, and the dupatta. However, it is still much different compared to the ghagra choli.
The skirt in the lehenga is usually heavily embroidered or adorned, which makes it a perfect fit for occasions that require you to dress up a little more, such as weddings and parties. The lehenga would not work that well for occasions such as smaller family gatherings, for it would then tend to be too showy. Besides, the blouse of the lehenga is almost equally heavily embroidered and the overall look tends to be very glitzy.
The best way to dress up in a lehenga while keeping its flavour in mind would be to accessorize the look well. With the lehenga, one can go for heavier accessories, such as heavy sparkling danglers and neckpieces, tiaras and kamrbandhs. The Lehenga is usually worn by women at weddings which call for special focus on makeup and hair as well.
Lehengas come in a wider variety of cuts compared to the ghagra, which comes only in the straight cut, although flared. The lehengas these days come in varying silhouettes, such as the straight cut, the fish cut, flared or even Bollywood style cuts. The different silhouettes create a different style and overall look each time. The ghagra and the lehenga, although quite similar, can be donned on different occasions each to create a different look each time.
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