Festive Bangles and Kadas: What to Wear for Diwali and Wedding Season

There is a sound that says the festive season has started. It is the sound of festive bangles kadas. They ring in the kitchen during mithai making. They chime at the puja and on every sangeet dance floor.

Bangles and kadas are the one piece of jewellery almost every Indian woman wears through Diwali and wedding season. The question is never whether to wear them. It is which ones, how many, and how to mix them so the stack looks right.

Here are the bangles and kadas we would wear this season, moment by moment, and how to stack them.

Our festive bangles kadas picks, moment by moment

For Lakshmi Puja: traditional gold with a little colour

For the puja, choose something traditional for your silk saree. Ensure they sit comfortably while you pray and move.

Kaamini Openable Indian Bangle, ₹2,450. From our Sone Pe Suhaga collection, in gold with red and green. It opens, so it slips on easily. Wear one on each wrist with your glass bangles in between.

For Diwali night: a kada with colour

When the lights are on and the house is full, a kada with colour catches the eye.

Jayapradha Slim Meenakari Kada, Openable, ₹3,250. A slim kada with meenakari work in red, green and blue. Slim enough to stack, colourful enough to wear on its own.

For the sangeet: bangles that make some noise

At the sangeet, you want bangles that move with you.

Varnika Gold Ghungroo Bangle Set, ₹1,950. Gold bangles with little ghungroos. Every time you clap or dance, they chime. That is the whole point.

For the wedding: a jadau kada

For the main wedding day, go for something with real presence.

Basic Thick Jadaau Kada, ₹3,950. A thick jadau kada with multicoloured stones and pearls. One on each wrist with a lehenga, and you barely need anything else.

For the bride's family: a statement polki kada

If you are the bride's sister, mother or bhabhi, this is the season to wear your best.

Bijoori Thick Polki Kada, ₹6,450. A thick kada with polki-style stones in red, green and blue. Made for the photos on the wedding day.

For the office Diwali party: something modern

Not every festive event calls for traditional gold. For an office party or a Diwali dinner in western wear, go for something cleaner.

Meeta Thick Dual Polish Bangle, ₹2,650. A thick bangle in two polishes. Works with a saree, a dress or a co-ord set.

How to stack bangles and kadas

This is where most looks go right or wrong. A few simple rules.

Start with a kada on the outside. Put a kada at the start and end of the stack. Place them closest to your hand and wrist. Fill the middle with thinner bangles. Kadas hold the stack together visually.

Mix thick and thin. All thick bangles look heavy. All thin ones look busy. One or two kadas with a few slim bangles in between is the balance you want.

Keep the gold tone the same. Mix colours and textures freely, but keep the gold in one family. Antique with antique, bright with bright.

Glass bangles count. Your red and green glass bangles from home look lovely between two gold kadas. You don't need to buy everything new.

Balance the two wrists. If one wrist has a watch, keep that stack lighter. Put the full stack on the other wrist.

Bangles make a lovely festive gift

For a Diwali or Bhai Dooj gift, a set of bangles is hard to go wrong with.

Moti Aur Sone Ki Dhar Bangle Set, ₹1,950. Gold bangles with pearl detailing from our Sone Pe Suhaga collection. Pretty, wearable, and under ₹2,000.

If you are not sure of her size, an openable kada like Kaamini or Jayapradha is the safest choice.

Getting the size right

Bangle sizes vary. Check the size chart on each product page before you order. If unsure or gifting, choose openable kadas. They fit a wider range of wrists.

Look after your bangles

Remove bangles before washing your hands. Keep them away from perfume and water. Wipe them with a soft cloth. Store them in their Attrangi box. More tips in our jewellery care guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a bangle and a kada? A bangle is usually thinner and worn in a set. A kada is thicker and heavier, often worn on its own or at the ends of a stack.

How many bangles should I wear for a festival? There's no rule. A good starting point is one kada on each wrist with three or four thinner bangles in between.

What is an openable kada? A kada with a hinge or clasp that opens, so you don't have to squeeze it over your hand. It also fits a wider range of wrist sizes.

Can I mix glass bangles with fashion jewellery bangles? Yes. Glass bangles between two gold kadas is one of the most classic festive stacks.

Is Attrangi jewellery real gold? No. All Attrangi products are strictly fashion jewellery. Words like polki, jadau or meenakari in our product names describe the look and style of the work.

See designs in the Indian bangles collection. Browse every style in our bangles and bracelets collection. Happy Diwali from all of us at Attrangi.

All Attrangi Products are strictly Fashion Jewellery.