The short answer: for Navratri, choose breathable handloom that you can wear from the morning puja to the evening aarti: a Maheshwari silk-cotton saree in sindoori red, a Chanderi in haldi yellow with zari butis, or an unstitched suit set you can have tailored. Red and yellow are classic festive colours, and many people also follow a different colour for each of the nine days.
Why handloom for Navratri
Navratri means long days: pujas, visits to family and the temple, and evenings of aarti or garba. Handwoven silk-cotton breathes, drapes softly and stays comfortable for hours, and a handloom saree becomes a festive piece you return to every year.
The sindoori Maheshwari saree
Our sindoori Maheshwari silk saree comes from Maheshwar, the temple town on the banks of the Narmada, where weaving took root under Rani Ahilyabai Holkar in the eighteenth century. Maheshwari cloth is soft and breathable, known for quiet stripes, checks and borders inspired by the town's ghats and fort walls. This one is woven in silk and cotton, 5.5 metres, with a 1 metre unstitched blouse piece. Red is the colour most associated with the goddess and with festive dressing, which makes it a natural choice for Ashtami or Navami puja.
Not sure whether you prefer Maheshwari or Chanderi? Read Chanderi vs Maheshwari: how to tell them apart.
Haldi yellow: Chanderi and Gond art
- Haldi Chanderi saree with meena butis. Sheer and light, with small woven motifs, for warm festive days.
- Haldi Gond art saree. Gond motifs on a Maheshwari base, for something festive and a little unexpected. Learn more in our guide to Gond art.
Suits and dupattas for garba nights
If you prefer a kurta for dancing, an unstitched set gives you a festive fabric tailored to your own fit:
- Sindoori unstitched Chanderi 3-piece suit set
- Kesari Gond art Maheshwari suit set
- Sindoori hand block-printed Bagh dupatta, to add colour to a plain kurta
Order early: allow time for delivery (up to 2 weeks anywhere in India) and for your tailor.
The nine colours of Navratri
In many parts of India, especially Maharashtra and Gujarat, people wear a different colour on each day of Navratri. The colours are tied to the weekday on which each day falls, so the sequence changes every year. Check the list published for this year, then plan your nine looks around it. A red saree, a yellow saree and a few suits cover several days, and jewellery and dupattas can carry the rest.
Finish the look
Hand-cast bell metal jewellery suits handloom perfectly. See what jewellery to wear for garba, and keep your saree at its best with our handloom saree care guide.
Shop the Navratri edit
Browse the full Navratri Special, or all handloom sarees. To see a saree in daylight before you buy, message us on WhatsApp at +91 98366 50278 for a short video viewing.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear for Navratri puja?
A handloom silk-cotton saree or suit in a festive colour such as red or yellow is a classic choice: comfortable for long hours and elegant for the puja.
What are the nine colours of Navratri?
Many people wear one colour for each of the nine days. The colours follow the weekdays the festival falls on, so the order changes each year. Check the list published for the current year.
Is a Maheshwari saree good for Navratri?
Yes. Maheshwari silk-cotton is soft, breathable and easy to wear all day, which suits long festival days.
Can I dance garba in a saree?
Many women do. Choose a lighter silk-cotton saree, drape it securely, and keep jewellery light.