Men's Festive Wear 2026: How to Choose Between a Kurta Set, Nehru Jacket and Bandhgala for Diwali and Weddings
Three silhouettes cover almost every festive occasion this season. A simple guide to what to wear when, the colours and fabrics that work, and how to get the fit right.
Women's festive fashion gets most of the attention, but men have a busy season too: Dussehra, Diwali on Sunday, November 8, Bhai Dooj, office parties and then a packed wedding season from November 21.
The good news is that almost every occasion can be covered by three pieces: the kurta set, the Nehru jacket and the bandhgala. Here is how to choose between them, and how to make them work.
Quick answer
- Kurta set: the most versatile. Good for pujas, family gatherings and haldi or mehendi functions.
- Nehru jacket: the easy upgrade. Wear it over a kurta for Diwali parties, card evenings and sangeets.
- Bandhgala: the most formal. Choose it for receptions, formal dinners and wedding ceremonies when you are not the groom.
- Colours this season: jewel tones such as bottle green, navy, burgundy and midnight blue for evenings; ivory, mustard, rust and soft pastels for daytime.
1. The kurta set
A kurta with matching or contrasting pyjama or churidar is the backbone of festive dressing. Retailer Aza Fashions describes it as the most versatile option of the three, and it is the most comfortable for long pujas and family days.
How to wear it:
- For Lakshmi Puja, choose silk or cotton silk in ivory, cream, gold or maroon.
- For daytime functions, try cotton, linen or Chanderi in pastels.
- A straight, knee-length kurta suits most body types. Very long kurtas can overwhelm shorter men.
- Add juttis or kolhapuris instead of formal shoes.
2. The Nehru jacket
A sleeveless jacket with a short stand-up collar, the Nehru jacket instantly makes a plain kurta look dressed up. It bridges casual and dressy events, which is why it is so useful in a season of back-to-back parties.
How to wear it:
- Try textured fabrics such as brocade, Chanderi or jacquard. Mustard, rust and ivory work with many kurta colours.
- Contrast is your friend: a plain kurta with a patterned jacket, or the other way round.
- One jacket can be re-worn across several events with different kurtas, which makes it the best-value festive buy.
- The jacket should sit close to your body and end around the hip. If it pulls at the buttons, go one size up.
3. The bandhgala
The bandhgala, also called the Jodhpuri suit, is a fitted, closed-neck jacket that has its roots in the princely state of Jodhpur. Worn with trousers or churidar, it is the most formal of the three, and it photographs very well.
How to wear it:
- For evening receptions, choose deep tones like bottle green, navy, burgundy or midnight blue, in raw silk, velvet or brocade, which catch festive lights.
- Fit matters most. A bandhgala should be tailored at the shoulders and chest. Get it altered if needed; a well-fitted simple bandhgala looks better than an expensive loose one.
- Keep accessories simple: a pocket square, a brooch or a watch is enough.
- Velvet is warm, so it is best for winter weddings in North India.
What grooms and wedding guests are wearing
For the 2026 wedding season, WeddingWire India and Pinterest highlighted a move away from the standard cream sherwani. Trends include:
- Powder pink bandhgalas and lavender kurtas for day functions;
- Champagne-toned sherwanis with small gemstone brooches;
- Monotone layering, with a kurta, jacket and stole in shades of one colour;
- Ivory safas (turbans) for the groom and close family.
If you are a guest, avoid competing with the groom. Skip heavy embroidery and very bright gold, and choose a bandhgala or a kurta with a Nehru jacket instead.
Read our guide to the wedding season dates and bridal trends to plan ahead.
Fabric guide
- Silk and raw silk: rich and festive, best for evening pujas and receptions.
- Cotton and linen: breathable for daytime and warmer cities in South and West India.
- Chanderi: light, with a slight sheen; good for day functions.
- Velvet: warm and luxurious; best for December weddings in the North.
- Brocade and jacquard: patterned weaves that work well for jackets.
Build a festive wardrobe on a budget
- Buy one good jacket. A Nehru jacket in a neutral or jewel tone can be worn over three or four different kurtas.
- Choose neutral kurtas. Ivory, beige and pastel kurtas pair with almost any jacket.
- Spend on tailoring. Small alterations make inexpensive outfits look custom-made.
- Check before you buy online. Festive sales attract fake shopping sites; see our guide to festive sale scams.
- Look for genuine fabric. If you are buying silk, check for the Silk Mark.
Related reading
Sources
This article draws on the following reporting. Dates are when each source was originally published.
- Aza Fashions: Men's Diwali outfits 2026: kurta sets, bandhgala and festive layers
- WeddingWire India: WWI x Pinterest Presents: The 14 Biggest Wedding Trends of 2026
- Wikipedia: Jodhpuri (bandhgala)
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