Author: Nirupama Singh Dar

Indian weddings are among the few occasions where clothes mean far more than fashion. A Banarasi sari, an embroidered sherwani, or a piece of heirloom jewellery is rarely just an outfit. Each reflects family traditions, regional identity and social memory. Weddings become a public display of those traditions, and everyone—not just the bride and groom—is expected to play a part. About fifteen years ago, something unusual began to catch attention at weddings in North India. Amid the sea of silk saris, lehengas, ornate jewellery and embroidered kurtas, there would occasionally be a handful of young women dressed in blue or…