Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sported khakis and a hockey jersey while at one of his last events in India, on Saturday.
Trudeau’s return to his more usual wardrobe comes after much ado has been made over his wearing of traditional Indian garb during his 10 day trip to the Asian country.
His son, Xavier, age 10, joined Trudeau in similar westernized dress, playing a game of field hockey at the Canadian High Commission with India’s national women’s ice hockey team.
Trudeau first started out looking like himself in khakhi pants and a crisp white, button-down shirt before later tossing on a Canadian hockey jersey.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sported khakis and a white dress shirt before tossing on a jersey while at one of his last events in India, after getting flack for wearing the country’s traditional garb during his stay; Trudeau waves as he arrives with his son Hadrien to attend an event with the Indian women’s ice hockey team, at the High commission of Canada, in New Delhi on Saturday
The leader handed out matching sweaters to the members of the Indian women’s team on Saturday, who wore Canada’s colors as they posed with Trudeau for a photo.
In the snapshot, he is seen holding up an orange and white Team India jersey of his own.
While in India, Trudeau caught a lot of flack for what people said were poor wardrobe choices, as he opted for traditional attire of the country at major events.
The prime minister and his family were spotted throughout their stay in kurtas and sarees (also spelled sari and shari), at various celebrations.
Trudeau takes part in a hockey event with the Indian women’s national ice hockey team at the Canadian High Commission of Canada in New Delhi, India on Saturday
Trudeau (third from right) with his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau (second from right), look on during an event with the Indian women’s Ice Hockey team
Trudeau, wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and the rest of the family donned traditional Sikh dress on Wednesday when he visited the Golden Temple
Trudeau was spotted in a dark-colored ensemble as he danced the Beanghra on Thursday night at a private dinner being hosted at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi.
Trudeau, his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and the rest of his family donned traditional Sikh dress on Wednesday, as well, when they visited India’s Golden Temple.
On Monday, the family wore brightly colored garments in the native style during their visit to Sabarmati Ashram or Mahatma Gandhi Ashram in Ahmadabad.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (center), his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau (left), their sons Hadrien (second from right), and Xavier, daughter Ella-Grace (second from left) greet media in an Indian style of ‘Namasteas’ during their visit of Sabarmati Ashram or Mahatma Gandhi Ashram in Ahmadabad, India on Monday,
The outfit that seemed to cause most offense was this golden number he wore on Tuesday to meet Bollywood stars, with newspapers describing it as ‘tacky’
But the outfit that seemed to cause the most offense was a golden kurta he wore on Tuesday to meet Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan in Mumbai, with newspapers describing it as ‘tacky.’
By Friday, Trudeau was back to basics, though, wearing a suit for his official meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his family in New Dehli.
Political commentator Parminder Singh told CTZ News in Canada that he thought criticism over Trudeau’s dress was misplaced.
‘I think i’ts really unfortunate,’ he said. ‘What speaks more Canadian than Trudeau’s attire?’
Singh elaborated that he felt Trudeau’s willingness to participate in the culture of his host country spoke volumes of Canadians’ overall mindset.
Back in traditional Indian dress, Trudeau walked out to the sound of drums before showing off his dance moves, dancing the Beanghra and waving to the crowd
Justin Trudeau broke into a dance on Thursday night as he made his entrance to a private dinner being hosted at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi
‘Us, as Canadians, we truly embrace each other’s culture,’ he said.
Singh recounted how his non-Indian friends and loved ones were very excited to shop for sarees and kurtas, which are worn by Indian women and men respectively, when they attended his Indian wedding in Canada.
‘Us, as Canadians, we truly embrace each other’s culture,’ he said.
But Singh acknowledged that people from the Asian nation may not have been quite used to that.
‘That was truly shocking for an Indian audience, I think,’ he said.
Singh spoke of how growing up in the Canadian school system, he would often see Indians as the punchline of jokes, and how great he thought it was that a foreign head of state was embracing traditional dress and culture in India.
‘I think that narrative took a wrong direction,’ Singh said. ‘I think he did a great job.’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with Trudeau and his family in New Dehli on Friday
But alleged fashion faux pas aren’t the only thing Trudeau caught flack for, on his stay overseas.
A man who was convicted of trying to kill a cabinet minister in India 30 years ago made it on to the Canadian guest list for two official events.
The man, Jaspal Atwal, was disinvited, however, after the mistake was realized. Canadian officials maintained Atwal was only a risk by way of reputation, and not actually a risk of potential harm to anyone.
Atwal was also previously on India’s no-fly list, Singh said, but was taken off.
Despite the questions remaining about how Atwal got invited by Liberal Member of Parliament Randeep Sarai, the purpose of Trudeau’s trip was to focus on trade, and strengthen ties with India, and Singh said he felt those goals had been met.
Trudeau greets members of India’s women’s ice hockey yeam in New Delhi on Saturday