Pikachu dons Indian attire for the festive season — Pikachu wearing a Saree debuts in Pokémon GO alongside other celebrations in November and December

Pokémon is expanding its presence in the Indian subcontinent: As part of the "Pokémon Festivities" campaign, Pikachu will be donning an Indian look and appearing in various events - from Pokémon GO to Pokémon Kids TV, to collaborations and celebrations taking place across the country. The male Pikachu sports a stylish navy-blue kurta with a beige vest, while the female Pikachu is clad in a pink saree. Pikachu’s attire has a clear Indian influence, with the Mago Berry pattern, resembling India’s national fruit, the mango. The design also incorporates the Poké Ball motif that is well-known among Pokémon fans. In addition to an exclusive event in Pokémon GO, the campaign will include a special gift box, a sticker pack, a dance video, keychain giveaways, and Pokémon Mela events.

Celebrate the Festival of Lights in Pokémon GO
The India-exclusive Festival of Lights in Pokémon GO will feature Pikachu in its Indian look. Trainers will not only be able to catch saree-clad Pikachu but can also expect a variety of bonuses in-game from 1 to 4 November 2024. This includes: glowing Pokémon attracted by Incenses, rewards such as double stardust and XP for catching Pokémon, Team GO Rocket balloons and Team GO Rocket Grunts at PokéStops appearing more frequently, and Incenses lasting for longer time. Furthermore, players will get to participate in unique Raid Battles featuring the costumed Pikachu, which will be available only to Trainers in India. The Pokémon Festivities campaign will also see Bollywood stars Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh becoming brand ambassadors for Pokémon GO, with the release of a special promotional video. Additionally, a special sweepstakes will be held on the official Indian Pokémon GO Instagram account (@pokemongoappin). Two lucky winners will win a trip to Pokémon GO City Safari: São Paulo.

Enjoy Singing and Dancing with Pikachu wearing Saree and Kurta
Pikachu dressed in saree and kurta can be seen in a dance video on Pokémon Kids TV. The video also features Mayo Japan and Kaketaku, who are popular Japanese influencers in India. The choreography of the song effectively combines Indian and Japanese dance steps to create a fun vibe. Check out the Pokémon Kids TV video below to watch Pikachu in action in its new outfit.

Pokémon Festivities sticker pack
The “Pokémon Festivities” GIF sticker collection is available for use across social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and others starting 16 October 2024. This set of 10 animated stickers features Pikachu in its new look, portraying a range of fun expressions, some of which take inspiration from gestures commonly seen in India. Created to enhance users’ communication experiences by adding a festive and playful touch to their interactions, these stickers will be accessible until 15 January 2025. Check out the entire sticker pack on GIPHY and Tenor.

Nationwide Celebrations
Pikachu clad in saree and kurta will appear at Pokémon Mela (transl. Pokémon Fair) scheduled from 6 to 8 December 2024 at Phoenix Marketcity, Pune. This event offers fans a vibrant fest-like experience with mini games, stage shows, gift campaigns, photo spots and other interactive activities. Visitors can enjoy engaging with and taking pictures with Pikachu in its new look, while immersing themselves in the world of Pokémon. Pikachu in saree and kurta can also be seen in the form of cute keychains which will be offered as giveaways in upcoming Pokémon events, such as social media campaigns and an upcoming special screening of Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle held across various cities. Additionally, Pokémon fans can receive a limited-edition Pokémon Festivities Gift Box upon purchasing Yakult probiotic milk beverage. This will be available across urban metros and via delivery.

For more information about the Pokémon franchise in India and neighbouring regions, check out the Bulbapedia article Pokémon in the Indian subcontinent.