for Diwali, most men wear a kurta pyjama. Choose embroidered silk or art silk for the puja on Sunday 8 November, add a waistcoat or Nehru jacket for the party, and keep a plain linen or cotton kurta for the working days around it. A sherwani is usually too formal for Diwali unless the party has a wedding-style dress code.
Most Diwali style guides are written for women, and the few written for men mostly cover Indian weddings. This guide covers the questions men in the UK actually ask: which kurta, how it should fit, what to wear over it in November, and how to match the rest of the family.
Which kurta for which day
Diwali 2026 in the UK runs from Friday 6 to Tuesday 10 November (Drik Panchang, London). Only Sunday is a full day off for most people, so you need one good outfit and a couple of easy ones.
| Day | UK date | What to wear |
| Dhanteras | Fri 6 Nov | Linen or cotton print kurta with chinos or dark jeans. It works for the office Diwali lunch and the evening shopping trip. |
| Choti Diwali | Sat 7 Nov | Simple cotton or jacquard kurta. You will probably be helping, carrying and cooking. |
| Diwali / Lakshmi Puja | Sun 8 Nov | Embroidered art silk or silk kurta with dupatta for the puja. Add a waistcoat, Nehru jacket or velvet kurta for the party. |
| Govardhan / Annakut | Mon 9 Nov | Plain silk kurta for the mandir. |
| Bhai Dooj | Tue 10 Nov | Your Diwali kurta again, or a simple kurta after work. |
The puja: embroidered kurta with a dupatta
For Lakshmi Puja you want something traditional that looks right in family photos. An embroidered art silk kurta with a matching dupatta is the easiest way to look dressed up without wearing a sherwani.
- Colours that work at a puja: beige, onion pink, grey-blue, teal, magenta and violet. They show up well next to diya light and gold puja items, without clashing with the women’s outfits.
- Wear the dupatta over one shoulder or draped around the neck. Tuck it away from the diyas when you do the aarti.
- Try: the Grey-blue embroidered art silk kurta with dupatta, the Dark teal green art silk kurta, the Magenta art silk kurta or the Beige embroidered art silk kurta. See the full Diwali men’s kurta collection.
The party: black, velvet and layers
After the puja, a lot of men change into something darker and smarter for the party. This is the one time a black kurta makes sense at Diwali.
- Black with embroidery or texture looks deliberate. A plain black kurta can look like everyday wear.
- Velvet is the most practical party fabric in the UK. It is warm, looks rich under low light, and does not need a jacket over it.
- A kurta with a waistcoat is the simplest way to look formal. You can take the waistcoat off when the dancing starts.
- Try: the Black embroidered velvet kurta, the Black satin kurta pyjama with waistcoat, the Black embroidered art silk kurta, or for a bigger occasion the Black Banarasi jacquard Indo-western kurta with jacket. More in black kurtas for men.
Is black OK for Diwali? For the party, yes. Some families avoid black for the puja itself, so if you are going to someone else’s home for the puja, pick a colour and save black for later.
Kurta fabrics, compared
The fabric decides how warm you are, how the kurta photographs, and whether it creases after a long evening. These are the fabrics in Shopkund’s current men’s range:
| Fabric | Feel and look | Warmth | Best for | Example |
| Linen (digital print) | Light, matte, relaxed | Low | Daytime, office Diwali lunch | Mustard linen print kurta |
| Cotton (weaving) | Soft, breathable, simple | Low–medium | Choti Diwali, helping at home | Maroon cotton weaving kurta |
| Jacquard | Woven pattern, slight sheen | Medium | Mandir visit, family lunch | Green jacquard kurta |
| Art silk (embroidered) | Festive sheen, holds embroidery well | Medium | Lakshmi Puja | Violet embroidered art silk kurta |
| Velvet | Rich, heavy, deep colour | High | Evening party, outdoor fireworks | Black velvet kurta |
A note on fire safety: art silk and satin are synthetic and can melt if they touch a flame, so keep dupattas and loose sleeves away from diyas and sparklers. If you are in charge of the fireworks in the garden, cotton or a coat over your kurta is the safer option.
Staying warm in a kurta in November
A kurta on its own is a cotton or silk shirt, which is not enough for a UK November evening outdoors. What works:
- A thin thermal vest underneath. It is invisible under any kurta except very thin linen.
- A waistcoat or Nehru jacket. It adds a layer over the chest and makes the outfit look more formal.
- A plain wool overcoat in navy, camel, charcoal or black. It looks good over a kurta, and you can take it off inside.
- A shawl for the mandir or a long outdoor display. It is traditional and practical.
- Shoes: mojaris or juttis indoors. Outdoors, plain leather loafers or Chelsea boots handle wet pavements better.
Getting the fit right
Most returns on men’s ethnic wear are about fit, not style. Before you order:
- Chest: measure a shirt that fits you well, flat across from armpit to armpit, and double it. Compare that number with the Shopkund size guide, not with your usual S/M/L size.
- Length: a festive kurta usually sits at the knee or just above it. If you are shorter, a slightly shorter kurta keeps you from looking swamped.
- Shoulders: the shoulder seam should sit on your shoulder bone, the same as a shirt.
- Bottoms: a churidar (gathered at the ankle) is the most traditional. A straight pyjama is more comfortable for sitting on the floor at the puja. Slim chinos are fine for the office days.
Matching with your partner (without looking like a uniform)
Exactly matching outfits can look like a uniform in photos. Choosing colours that go together looks better. Pick the women’s outfit first, because there are more colour options there, then choose the kurta:
| Her outfit | Kurta colours that work |
| Pink or peach lehenga | Beige, onion pink, cream |
| Yellow or mustard outfit | Off-white, beige, olive |
| Green or teal saree | Beige, gold, dark teal |
| Red or maroon saree | Cream, beige, black (for the party) |
| Purple or lavender anarkali | Grey-blue, onion, violet |
For ideas on the women’s side, see our guide on what to wear for Diwali in the UK and the Diwali collection.
Father and son
Children are happiest in soft fabrics they can run around in. A small kurta pyjama in art silk or cotton is the easiest choice.
- Coordinate the colour: for example a mint-green or yellow boys’ kurta with a beige or grey-blue kurta for dad.
- Try: the Yellow embroidered boys’ kurta, the Mint green embroidered boys’ kurta or the simpler Cream art silk boy kurta. See the kids’ collection.
Brothers and Bhai Dooj
Bhai Dooj is on Tuesday 10 November, so it will be a weeknight tilak for most families. You do not need a new outfit. Your Diwali kurta, or a simple cotton or linen kurta after work, is exactly right. If your sister is wearing a bright colour, a neutral kurta keeps the photos balanced. See all men’s kurtas.
Frequently asked questions
What should men wear for Diwali?
A kurta pyjama is the standard choice. Embroidered silk or art silk works for the puja, and a velvet kurta or a kurta with a waistcoat works for the party.
Should I wear a sherwani for Diwali?
Usually not. A sherwani is wedding wear. For Diwali, a kurta with a Nehru jacket or waistcoat gives you a similar formal look and is easier to sit and move in.
Can men wear a black kurta on Diwali?
Yes, for the party, especially with embroidery or velvet. For the puja, some families prefer colours, so choose beige, teal or another colour if you are a guest.
How should a kurta fit?
The shoulder seam should sit on your shoulder bone, and the length should be at or just above the knee. Use your chest measurement and the size guide rather than your usual shirt size.
What can I wear over a kurta in winter?
A waistcoat or Nehru jacket, a plain wool overcoat, or a shawl. A thin thermal vest underneath also helps outdoors.
What should I wear for Bhai Dooj?
Your Diwali kurta again or a simple cotton or linen kurta. Bhai Dooj falls on a weeknight in 2026, so keep it easy.
