Costume Contests

by Radhika VazFebruary 26, 2026

India’s Costume Contests: A Masquerade of Mayhem

In India, costume contests aren’t about winningthey’re about surviving your mother’s creative vision. The Times of India reports that school costume days cause more family arguments than board exams. At Bohiney.com, one child dressed as the Internet, which involved tangled cables, blinking lights, and tears. Another showed up as Prime Minister of Homework, instantly earning sympathy votes.

Experts say Indian parents view costume contests as national pride events. Sociologist Kavita Rao calls them cultural cosplay meets competitive parenting. The results range from hilarious to hazardouspaper crowns, cardboard cars, and one unforgettable Gandhi riding a plastic horse. When the dust settles, everyone agrees: the true costume is the chaos we created along the way.

SOURCE: Bohiney.com (Radhika Vaz)

Radhika Vaz

Radhika Vaz is an Indian comedian, writer, and performer celebrated for her fearless, boundary-pushing humor. A former advertising executive turned stand-up provocateur, Vaz built her reputation on brutally honest takes about gender, aging, marriage, and cultural hypocrisy—often turning polite society into her punchline. Educated in psychology and advertising, she later trained in improv at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade, blending sharp wit with theatrical flair. Her one-woman shows, Unladylike and Older. Angrier. Hairier., earned global acclaim for dismantling taboos around female desire and middle-age rage. Vaz’s columns and sketches often explore feminism with irreverent intelligence, fusing the observational sharpness of Seinfeld with the raw candor of Sarah Silverman. Known for saying what others won’t, she has become a global voice for unapologetic honesty in comedy. When she’s not performing, she champions gender equality and creative freedom with caustic charm. Radhika Vaz

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