South Asian Haute Couture Took Center Stage at the New York Diwali Gala
Diwali’s festive season is upon us, and New York City’s Diwali party circuit is strong. The city seems to be extra bright during this Diwali season, with many celebratory events and following the news that New York City public schools will be closed for the Diwali holiday. What better way to rejoice than the New York Diwali Gala?
Diwali is the Hindu festival of light over darkness and good over evil. Celebrants around the world take part in the holiday by gathering with loved ones, dancing, lighting candles called diyas, setting off fireworks, and creating colorful artwork called rangoli.
“Diwali is the festival of lights, so the holiday is about positivity, welcoming good vibes into your life, and sharing that with family and friends. Diwali for me is also about fashion and dressing up,” Jessel Taank told Vogue. Taank wore a resplendent and intricately appliqued Rahul Mishra couture gown and Deepa Gurnani jewelry. “Indian culture is somewhat underrepresented. We’re looking to bring it to the forefront and give it the spotlight that it deserves.”
The New York City Diwali Gala, held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, is one way in which the party’s hosts are looking to spotlight South Asian culture. Co-chaired by Vanity Fair’s Radhika Jones, Preet Bharara, and Kal Penn, the gala welcomed international celebrities to partake in Diwali and raise funds for the Asian American Writer’s Workshop. Bibhu Mohapatra, Ariana Debose, and Jenna Lyons joined for the sumptuous banquet at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel’s 36th-floor ballroom overlooking Central Park.
Joy, respect, and inclusivity are themes of the Diwali holiday, and reverberated throughout the gala. Model and Prakti Beauty founder Pritika Swarup, who wore an opulent Bibhu Mohapatra custom floor-length gown inspired by the Diwali night sky in collaboration with The Glenlivet, told Vogue, “It’s the significance of light and positivity, and triumph over dark and evil. When I was young, my mom would make a big deal of Diwali. She would light all these candles, and bring us together. It was a moment of connection and comfort that meant so much to me.”
The gala’s South Asian fashion exemplified luxury designers par excellence, in keeping with the dress code of “South Asian Splendor.” Mirrored sequins, gold thread, dangling beads, and diaphanous drapery were omnipresent on saris, lehengas, and gowns. Fashionable guests wore couturiers like Rahul Mishra, Gaurav Gupta, and Sabyasachi, bedecked with gem-encrusted earrings, necklaces, cuffs, headpieces, and purses. Many gentlemen wore patterned and bejeweled sherwanis, a dapper mélange of modern and Rajasthani traditions.