Met Gala 2025: Diljit Dosanjh Proudly Represents Punjabi Roots with His Regal 'Maharaja Look'

With the Met Gala 2025 taking to the headlines, Diljit Dosanjh is the talk of the town and his look is one to be remembered. The singer stepped onto the carpet, proudly representing his Punjabi roots in New York on Monday.

The singer walked the iconic Met Gala stars in a 'Maharaja look’ crafted by the famous fashion designer, Prabal Gurung. The theme of the 2025 gala this year was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, and the designer of Dosanjh's royal outfit captured both the theme and Punjabi attire perfectly.

Details Matter

Image from Vogue India

A look inspired by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, an Indian royal of the early 20th century, the regal attire offered layers of tradition, culture and jewels. Dosanjh’s Met Gala outfit dripped in Punjabi heritage details from head to toe, starting with a gold and ivory sherwani, with peacocks and roses also featured on the silk cape. A jewel-studded turban with a white feather, the embroidered textures of the map of Punjab and the Mool Mantra in Gurmukhi script. The singer also held a lion-headed kirpan (sword) symbolising regal power and courage in Sikhism. The kirpan is one of the five articles of faith, representing a Sikh’s duty to compassion, commitment to justice and serving spiritual significance. 

To finish the memorising outfit, Dosanjh's neckpiece was inspired by the famous ‘Patiala Necklace', which was crafted by a France-based jewellery house, Cartier, many centuries ago. 

Dosanjh expanded the vision of the Met Gala theme with the rich textures of Punjabi culture, permitting an unparalleled insight/snapshot/lens into South Asian culture. 

Dosanjh told The New York Times, “It's all about carrying your identity with pride, right?” 

According to Vogue India, the stitching of the Gurmukhi script and the map of Punjab was developed by a “team of 50 artisans over four days.”

Many fans turned to X to discuss Dosanjh's outfit and how he proudly represented the Punjabi culture.  One fan wrote, “What Diljit did at the Met Gala is bigger than fashion. It’s about visibility, pride, and telling our stories on global platforms.”

Who Gets to Wear History? The Legacy of the Patiala Necklace

Image from The Indian Express

Diljit Dosanjh’s Met Gala appearance reignited the debate over Cartier's handling of the Patiala Necklace. Dosanjh had requested to wear the historic Patiala Necklace, which was originally commissioned in 1928 by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. 

Although the French jeweller allowed American influencer Emma Chamberlain to wear a portion of the necklace at the Met Gala in 2022, Dosanjh was still denied the request. In response, Dosanjh developed a 250-carat replica of the Jaipur’s Golecha Jewels by using 2,500 diamonds and emeralds, incorporating it as part of his Maharaja outfit.

The decision has now sparked criticism of Cartier’s selective access to the piece, deeply rooted in South Asian history. Many critics are now arguing that while the French jeweller allowed a Western celebrity to wear a piece rooted in South Asian history, it denied an Indian artist the chance to connect with and honour its Punjabi origin. 

The original necklace remains behind glass in the ongoing Cartier exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, but many questions arise about who wears what and who is allowed to access what items based on their background.

We question: at what point does fashion cross into erasure?

A Proud Moment for Punjabi Legacy:

Diljit Dosanjh’s Met Gala appearance was more than just a fashion statement; it was a chance for the world to see Punjabi identity filled with pride and reclamation. Dosanjh, showcasing the Punjabi heritage and raising questions about Cartier gatekeeping the Patiala Necklace, has highlighted the ongoing questions about representation, ownership and who gets to wear their history.