Republic Day 2026: PM Modi’s Colourful Turban Keeps Tradition Alive; A Look Back at Past Styles

For the 77th Republic Day, everyone was checking out what Prime Minister Narendra Modi was wearing! He mixed tradition, local vibes, and a bit of modern fashion.

The main thing people noticed was his Rajasthani turban. It had cool Leheriya (wave) designs in bright red and yellow. Those colors usually mean good luck and happiness in Western India. Like he does every year, the Prime Minister picked a special turban from a different state in India to show off our country's different cultures.

He also wore a light blue Modi Jacket (basically a cooler Nehru jacket). It probably was made from Khadi or hand-loomed silk, which supports local businesses. He had a colorful pocket square that matched his turban, which pulled the whole look together.

Underneath the jacket, he wore a dark navy blue Kurta. It stood out against the lighter jacket and bright turban, making him look stylish but still connected to his roots.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sartorial choices during Republic Day celebrations have consistently drawn public attention, with his headgear often reflecting India's regional traditions and textile heritage. In recent years, these choices have become an integral part of the visual narrative surrounding the national event.

2025:

Modi wore a red and yellow striped safa, paired with a brown bandhgala jacket and a pocket square. The look continued a long pattern of distinctive turbans and traditional headgear at major national ceremonies.

2024: Bandhani print safa

At the 2024 Republic Day celebrations, the Prime Minister opted for a multi-hued bandhani print safa. Bandhani is a traditional tie-and-dye textile technique widely practised in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The craft involves pinching the fabric with fingernails and tightly binding small sections before dyeing, resulting in intricate dotted patterns once the bindings are released.

2023: Rajasthani and bandhani influences

The 2023 Republic Day celebrations saw Modi don a multi-hued bandhani print safa, once again highlighting India's indigenous textile traditions. The same year also marked a strong Rajasthani influence in his ceremonial attire. During the Republic Day and later at the 77th Independence Day celebrations, he appeared in vibrant, multi-coloured Rajasthani-style turbans, some featuring extended tails, paired with traditional kurta-trouser combinations.

2022: Uttarakhand symbolism

Departing from turbans in 2022, Modi chose a traditional Uttarakhand cap for the Republic Day celebrations. The cap was complemented by a brooch inspired by the Brahma Kamal, the state flower of Uttarakhand. The choice resonated with the Prime Minister's frequent visits to Kedarnath and was widely seen as a nod to regional identity and spiritual symbolism.

2021: Halari pagdi from Jamnagar

At the 2021 Republic Day celebrations, Modi wore a Halari pagdi - a red bandhej turban with yellow dots - gifted by the Jamnagar royal family. The bandhej style, closely associated with western India, once again underlined the Prime Minister's preference for traditional crafts during national occasions.

Independence Day parallels

The colour, variety and symbolism evident in Modi's Republic Day attire are mirrored in his Independence Day appearances. For his first Independence Day address in 2014, he wore a bright red Jodhpuri bandhej turban. In 2015, he shifted to a yellow turban marked by multi-coloured intersecting lines.

In 2016, Modi appeared at the Red Fort in a pink-and-yellow tie-and-dye turban, followed in 2017 by a red-and-yellow design accented with golden intersecting lines. The emphasis on bold colours continued in 2018 with a saffron turban, while a multi-coloured headgear marked his 2019 Independence Day address after returning to power with a large majority.

The focus on the Prime Minister's attire during Republic Day celebrations exists alongside broader civic and political themes associated with the occasion. Public discussions often centre on patriotism, constitutional values and national unity, while electoral developments and political debates continue in parallel.

Through evolving turbans, regional textiles and traditional motifs, Modi's Republic Day and Independence Day attire has emerged as a consistent visual element of India's national celebrations. His clothing choices, like his public messaging, reflect how symbolism, culture and politics intersect during the country's most significant ceremonial moments.