Best Bandhej and Leheriya Outfits for Mehendi and Haldi

Gulabi Galiyan Green Georgette Bandhej Sharara Set

The short answer: For mehendi, I would pick a georgette bandhej or leheriya set in green, pink or multicolour, such as the Gulabi Galiyan Green Bandhej Sharara Set (around ₹9,999) or the Multicolor Leheriya Gota Patti Anarkali Set (around ₹18,799). For haldi, I would go simpler and cheaper in cotton and yellow, like the Rang Malhaar Yellow Bandhej Cotton Co-ord Set (around ₹5,199) or the Bandhej Yellow Cotton Anarkali Set (around ₹12,999), because haldi is the function where your outfit is most likely to get stained. Prices are from the Pomcha Jaipur site when I checked in October 2026 and change with sales.

Mehendi and haldi are usually back to back, often in the same house, and I used to make the mistake of planning one outfit and winging the other. Tie-dye is my favourite answer for both because it looks festive without heavy embroidery. Here is how I split my shortlist from Pomcha's leheriya and bandhej collection.

Bandhej and leheriya: what you are actually looking at

They are both tie-and-dye, but the patterns are different. Wikipedia's bandhani page (bandhej is another name for it) describes tiny portions of cloth being pinched and tied into many small bindings before dyeing, which gives the familiar pattern of dots. Leheriya, according to Wikipedia and the Dastkari Haat Samiti story on Google Arts & Culture, is a Rajasthani resist-dye technique that produces diagonal or chevron stripes, said to be inspired by wave patterns made by wind on desert sand. Its main centres are Jaipur and Jodhpur.

One honest note: not every leheriya-look piece is tie-dyed. The description of the Navrang Orange Cotton Leheriya Kurta Set, for instance, calls it a printed kurta set. That is fine for a casual haldi, but if the dyeing itself matters to you, read the description before ordering.

For mehendi: georgette, colour and movement

Mehendi is the more dressed up of the two for me, usually in the evening, with music and a lot of photos. I like georgette here because it drapes and moves, which is a personal preference rather than a rule.

• Sharara: the Gulabi Galiyan Green Georgette Bandhej Sharara Set (around ₹9,999) has a 28 inch kurta, a 38 inch sharara with a half elastic waist, cotton lining and a 2.5 metre dupatta. Green feels right for a mehendi, and the elastic waist is a plus for a long evening.
• Anarkali: the Gulabi Galiyan Gulaal Pink Bandhej Georgette Anarkali Set (around ₹12,499) is a 48 inch georgette anarkali with cotton pants and a georgette dupatta.
• Leheriya with gota: the Gulabi Galiyan Multicolor Leheriya Gota Patti Georgette Anarkali Set (around ₹18,799) is the one I would choose if I wanted a little shine on top of the stripes.

Gulabi Galiyan Multicolor Leheriya Gota Patti Georgette Anarkali Set

If it is your own mehendi, or a sibling's, a lehenga makes sense. The Gulabi Galiyan Radha Multicolor Leheriya Georgette Lehenga Set is around ₹36,699, georgette throughout with a padded blouse (up to L), a 40 inch lehenga that can be customised, and a 3 metre dupatta. More options sit under the Gulabi Galiyan label and the wider sharara sets collection.

For haldi: cotton, yellow and a smaller budget

Rang Malhaar Yellow Bandhej Cotton Co-ord Set

Haldi is the one function where I deliberately do not wear my best outfit. Turmeric paste goes everywhere, and some families play with it. So my haldi rule is cotton, yellow or a bright warm colour, and a price I will not mourn.

• Co-ord: the Rang Malhaar Yellow Bandhej Cotton Co-ord Set (around ₹5,199) is a two-piece: a 30 inch cotton kurta and 38 inch cotton pants. No dupatta to manage, which I count as a feature at a haldi.
• Budget anarkali: the Sunhari Cotton Leheriya and Bandhej Anarkali Set is around ₹5,199, listed down from ₹10,399, in cotton with a 48 inch anarkali and 2.5 metre cotton dupatta.
• Dressier anarkali: the Bandhej Yellow Cotton Anarkali Set, below.

Bandhej Yellow Cotton Anarkali Set

If the haldi is the bride's or groom's own, or the photos matter, the Bandhej Yellow Cotton Anarkali Set (around ₹12,999) is the one I would look at. The page lists a cotton anarkali and pants, an organza dupatta, tassels at the back, and gotta lace at the hem, neck and sleeves. It also offers an optional potli.

One outfit for both? Here is what I would do

Meera Leheriya Orange Cotton Sharara Set

If you only want to buy one thing, choose a cotton set in a warm colour that can carry a dupatta. The Meera Leheriya Orange Cotton Sharara Set (around ₹19,499) has a cotton kurta and sharara with a half elastic waist and a 2.5 metre soft net dupatta. I would wear it without the dupatta at haldi and add it, plus jewellery, for mehendi. For a smaller spend, the Rang Malhaar Mehendi Green Bandhej Cotton Co-ord Set at around ₹3,899 is a budget set that literally comes in mehendi green.

What I check on the product page before ordering

• Lining: georgette can be sheer. The green bandhej sharara set mentions cotton lining for the kurta and sharara, and I look for that line on any georgette piece.
• Dupatta or no dupatta: the Rang Malhaar co-ords are two-piece sets, while most anarkali and sharara sets include a 2.5 metre dupatta. Decide which you want before you fall for a photo.
• Blouse padding: Gulabi Galiyan lehenga pages say the blouse is padded up to size L. Worth knowing if you are above that size.
• Sale versus full price: some cotton sets show a compare-at price, and some labels do not. I note both before deciding.
• Colour on screen: the pages carry a disclaimer that colours can look slightly different from the photos because of lighting, so I leave a little room for that, especially with bright yellows and pinks.

Pomcha's older post with haldi dress ideas is useful for colour inspiration, and if you want a saree instead, the leheriya saree page collects those.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between bandhej and leheriya?

Both are tie-dye. Bandhej (bandhani) is made by tying many tiny points of cloth, which gives a dotted pattern. Leheriya is a Rajasthani technique that gives diagonal or chevron stripes, according to Wikipedia and Google Arts & Culture.

What colour should I wear to a haldi?

Yellow is the usual choice, but any warm, bright colour works. I prefer cotton in a colour that will not show turmeric stains badly.

Is georgette or cotton better for mehendi?

It is a matter of preference. I like georgette for an evening mehendi because it drapes well in photos, and cotton for a daytime one.

Are all leheriya outfits tie-dyed?

No. Some pieces carry a leheriya print. For example, the Navrang leheriya kurta set's description says it is printed. Read the product description if the technique matters to you.

How do I care for bandhej and leheriya outfits?

Every Pomcha product page I read for these sets says dry clean.

Sources

• Wikipedia, Bandhani, how bandhej or bandhani is tied and dyed, and its other names
• Wikipedia, Leheriya, technique, origin of the name and main centres
• Google Arts & Culture, Dastkari Haat Samiti, Leheriya Textiles from Rajasthan, leheriya as a Rajasthani resist-dye with diagonal or chevron stripes
• Pomcha Jaipur product pages linked above, for fabric, length, components, wash care and price details (checked October 2026)