Jaipur Literature Festival, regarded by many as the ‘greatest literary show on Earth’, is not just an annual congregation of the who’s who of the art and cultural world, but it also brings together the diversity that exists among the page 3 glitterati, who parade through the venues and streets of Jaipur highlighting their own personal sense of style as well as expression.
The five-day event is currently underway in the Pink City till February 5.
From quintessential Indianwear – saris, dhotis and kurtas – to hip and vibrant streetwear, from chic to bohemian, vivid styles are on display this year too, as people assume a place for themselves at the widely-attended festival and express a part of themselves through fashion.
Interestingly, saris remain popular and not just among women. “I had decided that if I attend this fest, I am going to that wearing a sari as it’s like draping a part of our culture,” said 20-year-old Reetika Kalakoti, a literature student from Dehradun, Uttarakhand. While she chose to go with shades of white and black, Sauvik Acharjee, who identifies as a cis gay man, went for a combination of blue and pink, and paired it with a black T-shirt that had rainbow stripes. “I choose to wear a sari at an event like this, as it’s more expressive. People come over, they talk and enquire, and understand that fashion shouldn’t be constricted by gender norms,” he said, highlighting how it is still difficult for people to accept a man embracing femininity.
“Androgynous fashion is up and buzzing,” he said, something that was evidently on display at the literary event. While women donned myriad colours, men, too, trespassed beyond muted tones, and embraced shades of red, yellow and green.
Attendees also seemed to embrace a part of the vibrant culture of Rajasthan through their attire. From jackets, bags and chokers sourced from the streets of Udaipur and putting everything together into a hip streetwear to the ever-popular block prints on cool cotton, some visitors gave one the impression of the intermingling of a high street with the local bazaars of the Pink City. People also dressed up for the weather, which oscillated from cold mornings to warmer afternoons and chillier evenings by wearing shackets, a blend of shirt and jacket.
Not only can one get inspired by the buzzing fashion around but put that inspiration into practise as the large number of pop-ups offer much to indulge in, from saris, shawls and kurtas to shackets, accessories, and more. Although the rise in consumerism at JLF has been often criticised, the literary fest, with myriad food and beverage options, music performances, and bazaar, has grown to be a multi-cultural event, with fashion being a major part of it.
