Know The Cultural Significance Of Lehengas For Women In Indian Culture & Tips To Choose

A lehenga is a three-piece ensemble, which includes an elaborate skirt, blouse, and a dupatta. While Indian women often wear lehengas on special occasions, like weddings and festivals, bridal lehengas for women are one of the most coveted garments. Way before wedding preparations begin, many brides-to-be dream of the lehenga they will wear on their big day. But do we know where lehengas for women come from? Let’s take a deep dive into the world of women’s lehengas, their significance in Indian culture, and tips on how to choose the right lehenga.

The History of Lehengas 

The historic origins of lehengas for women can be traced back to ancient times when royals donned attires embellished with gemstones and sometimes even precious stones. They can be seen to this day in paintings and art, displaying preserved garments. Lehengas are also mentioned in Buddhist Pali and Sanskrit literature. Royal women from Rajput families and the Mughal era wore intricately made garments, which sometimes took months to make. The fine work was done by artisans who dedicated their lives to the craft, with old tales claiming that they would go blind working on these pieces.

Cultural Significance of Lehengas 

Lehengas for women across the Indian subcontinent reflect the regional culture, traditions, textiles, and techniques. India undoubtedly has a rich history and a vast variety of traditions from region to region. From the production of textiles to embroidery work, the knowledge pertaining to region-specific art and craft is passed on across generations. Many families still uphold these techniques through their small businesses. From ghagra choli from the northern states of Rajasthan and Gujarat to the bright colours and zari work of southern states such as Tamil Nadu, these lehengas reflect the artistry and speciality of craftsmen from each state. 

Modern Evolution 

In modern times, lehengas for women are adapting to the trends (like all of fashion does). Lehenga skirts are being simplified with people preferring to wear them with a heavier dupatta instead. With cropped tops being all the rage right now, the silhouette is translating to cholis with cropped blouses with backless and low neck features being the go-to designs. Women lehengas come with indo-western variants like bralette blouses and replacing the blouse for shirts and blazers. Many women are also opting for two-piece lehengas – which ditches the dupatta – for an easy-going look that is great for wearing to wedding ceremonies like haldi and mehendi or even cocktail parties during the festive season. 

Pop Culture Moments 

It’s time to blame Bollywood for this national obsession with lehengas for women. From Kajol’s champagne lehenga in the iconic climax of DDLJ to Kareena Kapoor’s modern take on the lehenga silhouette in K3G, actors wearing elaborate lehenga outfits defined the wedding attire of an entire generation. Not just movie looks, many women are now also recreating real-life wedding lehenga looks of actors such as Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Parineeti Chopra. Not just Bollywood, American show Never Have I Ever (2020) referenced the attire and most recently, actor Jennifer Aniston was spotted wearing an embellished lehenga in the film Murder Mystery 2 (2023). 

8  Tips to Choose the Right Lehenga

• • Occasion: When buying lehengas for women, the first thing to consider is the occasion or event. If you are a wedding guest, you may wanna go for lightweight and contemporary lehengas. If it’s your big day, you may wanna check the various rituals you will be participating in and decide the design based on any requirements for customs.
    

• Length: Deciding the length of your lehenga is key for comfort and ensuring ease of movement. You should ideally try on the skirt while wearing heels of a similar height as the one you intend to wear with your outfit. This will help ensure that the skirt does not get stuck in your footwear. Remember to check if your skirt is high-waisted or low-waisted and pick accordingly.  
• Fit: When choosing festive or wedding lehengas for women, the overall fit is the most important thing to look out for. You need to make sure that there is enough space between the lower band of your blouse and the waist of your skirt. Ensuring that the skirt sits at the right spot on your waist will help you achieve the hourglass silhouette, regardless of your body type. 
• Fabric: Choose fabrics that will suit the weather and venue. Light-weight fabrics like organza, chiffon, and georgette will be better for summer or outdoor events and weddings, while heavier fabrics like silk with zardozi work and velvet will be better for the cold. The fabric choice also depends on the embellishments you want as heavy rhinestones and intricate embroidery will pop better on thicker cotton and velvet fabrics. 
  

• Types: There are different types of lehenga skirts available, including layered ruffles, patchwork, floral prints, traditional textiles such as Kanchipuram, and silhouettes like mermaid skirts and A-line. Net or mesh lehengas are also great for a romantic look. You can choose any one of these or a mix of types. Go all-out with a long train and high-low hemline or a circle skirt for twirl-worthy moments.  
• Styling: No one can deny that the traditional lehenga silhouette with an over-the-shoulder dupatta is a classic. However, you can choose to go for different dupatta draping styles, such as the half-saree or around the waist and one end tied to the wrist. Women Lehengas can be worn in the no-dupatta style, too, or you can replace them with jackets or capes that are either cropped or floor-length.
• Jewellery: Many brides will prefer to wear jewellery that has been passed down in their family or gifted by their to-be in-laws. While this is a heartwarming sentiment, it is important to ensure that the jewellery you wear does not snag the fabric or the embellishments. The metal should also complement your lehenga. 
  

• Buying online:  If you plan on purchasing a lehenga online, make sure to check reviews before placing the order. Buying from a trustworthy website helps ensure good quality products and hassle-free returns and exchanges. Read the product description to get a better understanding of the fabric, embroidery, and embellishment materials, which will help avoid any issues like allergic reactions later on.