After she met with President Droupadi Murmu in Manali last week, Kangana Ranaut went home. The Mandi MP wore a Himachali topi and an olive-green velvet suit with Kullu-style embroidery, and brought along a handcrafted Kullvi shawl for the President.

The look

The suit was in crushed velvet, and its yoke was the standout. It carried bold geometric panels stitched in pink, royal blue, green, and orange, the kind of motifs associated with traditional Kullu weaves. A dupatta in emerald green and royal blue finished the outfit.

Then there was the topi. Hers had a bright pink crown, a green velvet band, and a small golden brooch. In Himachal, the cap carries real weight. People see it as a mark of local pride and identity, and the pattern on the band often signals where in the state the wearer comes from. Kangana has worn it in public before, so it came as no surprise that she chose it for this occasion.

A shawl for the President

At the courtesy meeting, she presented the President with a handcrafted Kullvi shawl, a nod to the woollen weaving the valley is known for.

The visit

President Murmu was in Himachal Pradesh for three days, with a stay in Manali. Kangana, who has a house in the town, was among those who received her at the helipad on arrival. She was there again when the President visited the Hadimba Temple and the Atal Tunnel. Afterwards, she wrote in a social media post that she had met the President at the temple and later had a courtesy meeting with her.

Clothes have often been Kangana’s way of pointing to her roots. Kullu patti embroidery, Himalayan wool and the local cap have all turned up in her public appearances, including in Parliament. This time the message was easy to read: she was welcoming the head of state in her own valley, in its colours.