India, July 27 -- If Hariyali Teej had a dress code, it would be leheriya. The colourful, ripple-like sarees are synonymous with the festival, as women across North India pull out their finest greens - a nod to "hariyali" - to mark the monsoon celebration steeped in tradition and goddess lore.

Rooted in 17th-century Rajasthan, the leheriya (from leher, meaning "wave") pattern mimics the waves of the desert and was originally created using tie-and-dye techniques under Rajput patronage. Interestingly, it began as a style for royal men to flaunt their status with their turbans, but gradually found its way into women's wardrobes with sarees, dupattas, and more.

"The flowing wave patterns represent joy, celebration, and prosperity that beaut...