Women generally wear heavily embroidered and embellished three piece outfits, consisting of a Chaniya which is a long flowing skirt, a Choli which is a a tight midriff baring blouse and a a form of flowing scarf known as an Odhani or dupatta. The Chaniyas and Cholis have differing patterns, with a wide range of motifs.
The Chaniya is mostly embroidered and pleated, and is designed to allow freedom of movement and also to keep you cool. The Choli is cut to fit tightly to the body and usually has short sleeves and a low neck and is often cropped to expose the navel. Some modern Cholis will have cut out backs and front openings.
They wear a tight fitting top known as a Kediyu which is widely flared at the midriff and swings around as they dance. Some will wear colourful and extravagant bans or other decorative caps, and sport multicoloured scarves. The mens attire is also embroidered and embellished with patterns and small mirrors.
Many will sport a bindi on their forehead and some will have ankle bracelets, which give off tinkling and jingling sounds as they dance and sway. Some few or more will have adorned themselves heavily and completely and they stand out and shine, these are the garba queens whose passion and devotion for the dance is apparent from the time and imagination taken over their adornment. Many others will adorn themselves colourfully but in simple and rustic ways.
At certain events women will carry a pot or a multitude of decorated pots on their heads and will dance in elegant deportment. There is little problem of what shoes to wear, as when dancing, footwear is taken off for reasons of cleanliness and safety and most importantly due to respect for the deities; the garba floor being hallowed ground.
A huge amount of good things can be written about the odhani. It flows in breezes, it hides the coy, it shapes the figure, it covers the bare, it can leap out and kiss, with a gentle glance, a wispy stroke, a twisty tease, it can bind and tie, pull and caress, float away and never be found, it wraps around you in comfort, waves around you in celebration, it is cheap and cheerful, graceful and extravagant, exotic and exciting
There is also the choice of wearing a traditional Patola Saree, which is specially made in Patan in Northern India. This garment is believed to bestow a spiritual essence arising from the time, care and devotion with which it is crafted. Patola Sarees are very expensive costing around ten thousand sterling pounds or a lot more.
Some of the younger girls and boys will go that much further and have temporary tattoos of icons and elements of the dances and devotion, painted on their bare arms, shoulders and backs, all this to stand out and increase their showing and their allure and to provide further buzz to their personality and adornment.
With men and with women generally the more elaborately they are dressed, the greater their enthusiasm and passion for the dance and devotion. The ideal dancing garments are those which are alluring and flowing and allow freedom of movement, traditional garba attire mostly, though not always allows for this.