India’s cultural and sartorial legacy stole the spotlight at a national tourism conference in Bengaluru, where models showcased traditional attire from across the country against a vibrant digital backdrop of monuments, temples, and landscapes.
Ramp celebrates tradition and tourism
The fashion showcase, titled “Parampara Vasthra of Bharat” with the tagline “An Exclusive Showcase of Heritage, Textiles and Elegance”, marked the inauguration of the 55th annual convention of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI).
Held on Thursday night at a luxury hotel, the show brought alive India’s diversity through textiles, architecture, and cuisine. The three-day conference is themed “Future Scape 2047: Redefining Hospitality for a New Era” and will deliberate on India’s tourism and hospitality roadmap while celebrating its cultural richness.
Sarees, lehngas and sherwanis on display
From Kerala’s set sarees and West Bengal’s vibrant drapes to Rajasthan’s embroidered lehngas and Assam’s traditional outfits, models walked the runway in a spectacular showcase of textiles.
A total of 32 young models — 22 women and 10 men — sashayed down the ramp wearing costumes ranging from sarees, lehngas and kurtas to sherwanis, veshtis and dhotis. Each walk was accompanied by stunning visuals of iconic heritage sites such as Delhi’s Red Fort and Qutub Minar, Rajasthan’s Hawa Mahal and Umaid Bhawan, and Tamil Nadu’s temples.
The carefully curated show covered traditional attire from 10 states — Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Assam, Delhi, Telangana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
A blend of fashion and heritage
Show director Vignesh Chandrasekar said the aim was to celebrate India’s unity in diversity.
“This event is about tourism and hospitality. Tourists travel to explore new cultures, and through this show, we showcased India’s traditional wear in a way that combined fashion with heritage,” he said.
He added that the selection of 10 states was guided by time constraints but the spirit of the show was a celebration of the entire nation’s cultural wealth.
The 20-minute performance, accompanied by powerful music, also displayed visuals of traditional dishes, water bodies and landscapes, leaving the audience enthralled.
Models highlight India’s diversity
The participants, most of them based in Bengaluru, described the show as a learning experience in cultural exchange.
“For me, the diversity of India and yet its oneness was the best part,” said model Rida Zehra, who wore a Tamil Nadu saree.
Ajay Mohan from Kochi, Kerala, modelled traditional West Bengal attire, while Azmiya Mohammed from Mangaluru represented Assam. Chennai-born model Ananya Rajput, dressed in a Tamil saree, highlighted how people often mistake her for a Tamilian though her family hails from Uttar Pradesh.
Cultural and political presence
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who hails from Rajasthan, attended the show and lauded the initiative.
The event received thunderous applause, blending India’s heritage with hospitality, and set the stage for deeper discussions on the role of culture and tradition in redefining the country’s future tourism landscape.