What to Wear to an Indian Funeral — A Quiet, Practical Guide
Someone has died, and you have almost no time. That is the situation most people are in when they read a page like this, so here is the short version first.
- Hindu and Sikh services — wear white, or cream, off-white, pale grey. White is the colour of mourning.
- Muslim services — wear subdued or dark colours. White is not expected.
- Cover your arms and legs at all three.
- Skip black at a Hindu funeral. It reads as a Western import and can cause offence.
- No bright colour, no red, minimal jewellery, nothing that draws the eye.
- Shoes come off. Wear something easy, and bring socks.
Why white
In Hindu and Sikh tradition, white is the colour of mourning, purity and release. It is the opposite of the Western instinct, where black is the safe choice — at a Hindu funeral, black is the wrong choice and is often read as disrespectful.
If you have nothing white, cream, ivory, oatmeal, pale grey and soft beige are all acceptable. The principle is that your clothing should not draw attention to itself.
Hindu services
Wear white or off-white — a plain cotton or silk saree, a simple salwar kameez, or a white kurta with white pyjama for men.
- Cover your shoulders and knees. Nothing sleeveless, sheer or close-fitting.
- Keep jewellery minimal. Married women may keep their everyday pieces; beyond that, leave it at home.
- Little or no makeup.
- Shoes come off at the home, the crematorium and the temple.
- Avoid jeans. This is one of the few occasions where they read as genuinely careless.
Hindu cremation usually takes place within twenty-four hours of death, which is why so few people have time to prepare. There are further gatherings afterwards and white is worn to those as well.
Sikh services
The same principle: white, cream, pale grey, soft blue. Avoid orange and bright red, which read as celebratory.
Everyone covers their head in the gurdwara, regardless of gender or faith. Coverings are usually available at the entrance, but bringing your own is the more respectful choice — a plain white or pale dupatta for women, a plain handkerchief or patka for men.
The final prayer, the Antim Ardas, takes place at the Bhog ceremony, which follows a complete reading of the Guru Granth Sahib and is usually held within about ten days of the death. Wear the same quiet white.
Shoes come off before entering. Bring socks.
Muslim services
At a Janazah, white is not the expectation — plain, modest, subdued clothing is. Navy, grey, brown, black and other muted tones are all appropriate.
- Loose clothing, long sleeves, a high neckline, a long skirt or loose trousers.
- Women generally cover their hair with a plain scarf. It does not need to be tightly wrapped — draped is enough.
- Non-Muslim guests are welcome, and attending is understood as a kindness to the family.
- Shoes come off in the prayer hall.
What to avoid, at any of the three
- Bright colour of any kind, and red above all
- Black at a Hindu service
- Bare shoulders, bare knees, anything sheer or close-fitting
- Statement jewellery, heavy fragrance, visible logos
- New shoes, or anything difficult to slip off
What we carry
We keep white and off-white in stock year-round, because these are not occasions anyone plans for.
- White and cream salwar kameez — the most common request, and the easiest thing to wear
- Plain cotton and silk sarees in white and ivory, with plain blouses
- White kurta pyjama for men, cotton for daytime services
- Plain white dupattas and chunnis for covering your head at the gurdwara or mosque
- Children's white outfits, for boys are available. girls outfits are coming soon!
Nothing here is embellished or embroidered. That is deliberate.
Come in
If a service is tomorrow morning, come in today. Tell us which tradition and roughly what time of day, and we will put something plain and appropriate together. We carry most sizes (XS-3XL) for both men and women. Most people are in and out in about twenty minutes, and we understand it is not a day for browsing.
18507 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA. Open Tuesday to Sunday until 6:45 PM, closed Mondays. Free parking in the rear lot. Walk-ins are always fine — no appointment needed, particularly for this.