The Most Dazzling Looks From the All That Glitters Diwali Ball
On October 12, guests flocked to the iconic Pierre Hotel in New York City, dressed in their finest South Asian formalwear, to celebrate Diwali at the highly anticipated All That Glitters Ball. This annual event, spearheaded by entrepreneur and investor Anjula Acharia—who also manages Priyanka Chopra—is a tribute to the Hindu festival of lights, and this year, the stars were out, shining brighter than ever.
Upon arrival, guests mingled in the hotel's opulent rotunda for cocktail hour, sipping on festive drinks before transitioning into the grand ballroom for dinner, performances, and dancing.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
The night was nothing short of a South Asian fashion spectacle, with a parade of intricately embroidered sarees, beaded lehenga cholis, and kurta pajama sets on display, alongside sherwanis for the men.
This year’s hosts included Anjula Acharia, along with Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Real Housewives of New York City star Jessel Taank, Mean Girls actress Avantika, Bollywood dancer and actress Nora Fatehi, musician Jay Sean, and many more.
Acharia explained her motivation behind creating this vibrant celebration: "I grew up loving Diwali as a child but hiding it because everyone made fun of me for it. It wasn’t a festival or culture that really, where I grew up, people knew about at all. So I would hide it, but secretly love it," she shared. "As I got older and grew into myself and became more confident, I was like I love this holiday! What I love about this holiday is it’s so much more for me: It’s an expression of our culture, of our food, of our music. So, for me it’s just a culmination of all those things, and it’s so inclusive of all South Asians."
The Pierre Hotel's ballroom glittered as top design talent mingled with entertainers and influencers, all gathered to celebrate the festival and showcase their dazzling ensembles. Among the standout designers represented were Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Falguni Shane Peacock, both of whom were present.
They shared the host committee alongside stars like Simone Ashley, Tan France, Hasan Minhaj, Jay Sean, and Jessel Taank.
Scroll on to catch a glimpse of the most glittering looks from Saturday's spectacular celebration:
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
The Patriot Act star stunned in a navy ensemble, capturing the essence of sleek elegance with his tailored look.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
The Canadian-Moroccan Bollywood star and performer of the night sparkled in a stunning saree, owning the stage in her radiant style.
Photo: Tarishi Gupta/Instyle
The evening’s hostess dazzled in a couture Falguni Shane Peacock creation, featuring a glittering teal bra and a fishtail skirt encrusted with sequins and beads. "It’s really different from what I would normally wear," she admitted. "I would normally wear a very big skirt but this year I decided to go with this kind of fishtail thing. I wanted it to feel more gown-esque this year, so that’s what inspired this."
Photo: Tarishi Gupta/Instyle
The Real Housewives of New York City star arrived in a black saree embroidered with gold details, styled by her co-star Jessel Taank after a delayed flight. "This is all inspired by Jessel," Hassan said. "I don’t know how I’m going to take this off tonight!"
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Co-host and Bravo star Jessel Taank channeled Old Hollywood and Bollywood in a teal beaded gown by Falguni Shane Peacock. "I cut my hair short and [wanted] to do this old world Hollywood-Bollywood fusion, so that’s what we’re doing here today. I hope it’s giving!" she said.
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Joining her Real Housewives castmates, De Silva wowed in a bedazzled sheer bra top paired with a peach-colored maxiskirt.
Photo: Tarishi Gupta/Instyle
Netflix's Chief Content Officer made a striking impression in a navy blue off-the-shoulder peplum dress with intricate gold embroidery and a chiffon skirt-pant hybrid. Bajaria fondly reminisced about a favorite Diwali memory: "My favorite Diwali memory is at my house, seven years ago—so my kids were younger—we had lots of friends over doing sparklers, like firework sparklers, [which] are a big part of Diwali."
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Never Have I Ever star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan dazzled in a Champagne-colored lehenga designed by Anita Dongre, taking inspiration from the newly released Anita Dongre Diwali Barbie doll. "From the necklace, the jewelry, the earrings, the lehenga, it’s all Anita Dongre, I’m an Anita girl!” she exclaimed.
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Mean Girls actress Avantika Vandanapu sparkled in a Falguni Shane Peacock beaded skirt paired with a sheer matching scarf, thrilled to be wearing the creation of a designer she admired.
Photo: Tarishi Gupta/Instyle
Re-wearing an elegant navy blue ensemble from his sangeet earlier this year, Oza joked about getting the most out of his wedding wardrobe. "Indian weddings are a multi-day event, so this was day three for this sangeet, and my wife has the matching version."
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PR executive Anita Chatterjee looked regal in a navy blue sequin salwar kameez, perfect for the festive occasion.
Photo: Tarishi Gupta/Instyle
Versha Sharma's lehenga choli featured a shimmering red abstract print with a structured square neckline, making for an eye-catching look.
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Gold House co-founder Bing Chen chose a white sequin kurta layered under a beige printed sherwani.
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InStyle's executive editor, Danielle McNally, embraced sustainability in a black-and-gold gown made from upcycled sarees, designed by HoliChic by Megha Rao.
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Ahmed opted for a classic ivory sherwani paired with black trousers.
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The Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy looked radiant in a silver kurta adorned with intricate white embroidery.
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Billboard's editorial director wore a coral lehenga embellished with gold and white beading.
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Samina Virk modernized her saree look with silver sequins, giving it a contemporary twist.
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Singer Jay Sean matched his navy blue sherwani to Thara Prashad’s glittering gold lehenga, creating a perfect pair for the evening.
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Ritika Gupta put a unique spin on the classic lehenga by opting for pants instead of a skirt, paired with a soft pink top.
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The design duo coordinated their looks, with Falguni in a black jaguar-printed gold beaded dress, while Shane wore a glittery black kurta.
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Netflix exec Bela Bajaria's daughters, Rami and Sofia, looked charming in their traditional Indian dresses.
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The former Chief Marketing Officer of Netflix floated through the night in an ethereal white lehenga with dramatic sleeves, ready for her future role on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
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Rohini Iyer wore a blush-colored lehenga with a sheer beaded dupattā, adding an elegant touch to the night.
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Shah wore a Barbie-pink lehenga with a beaded bra top and voluminous skirt, featuring intricate embroidery.
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Reva Bhatt turned heads in a bright pink lehenga, complete with a dupattā wrapped around her head.
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Babi Ahluwalia donned a shimmery silver gown with rosette details on the neckline, paired with her friend Sri Murthy, who wore a floral skirt and pearl top.
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Suhel Seth and Impana Srikantappa both embraced the black-tie theme, with Srikantappa opting for a beaded fishtail skirt.
Photo: Tarishi Gupta/Instyle
The founder of HoliChic, Megha Rao, stunned in a white beaded lehenga choli and matching cape for the evening.
Photo: Tarishi Gupta/Instyle
Peloton instructor Aditi Shah rocked a black lehenga with floral embroidery at the hem, paired with a bejeweled bra top.
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Ahluwalia posed alongside Bajaria and her daughter Sofia for a quick photo during the event.
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Madiha Khan's salwar kameez featured a sheer beaded tunic layered over matching trousers.
Photo: Tarishi Gupta/Instyle
Kunal Merchant went for an all-black kurta and sherwani, while Kahani wore a black ribbed coat.
Photo: Tarishi Gupta/Instyle
Kumari chose a silver gown featuring structural detailing, complemented by a matching dupattā draped elegantly over her shoulders.
Photo: Tarishi Gupta/Instyle
The businesswoman's bold red lehenga was adorned with vibrant, colorful beading throughout.