"I got the creative freedom to basically create anything"
Bayern Munich unveiled a special Diwali kit designed by Indian artist Abhay Sehgal, featuring intricate artwork inspired by his childhood, cultural traditions and lifelong love of football.
The German club unveiled the one-off version of the third kit just days before Diwali, with Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry, Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano showcasing the design as part of its festival celebrations.
Featuring a dark purple base decorated with intricate orange, red and gold patterns, the shirt illustrates a personal story for Sehgal.
Ballon d’Or winner Kane thanked the artist for his work:
“Special thanks to Abhay for creating and sharing such a special design with us this Diwali, all the way from India.”
Sehgal explained that the collaboration was an opportunity to reflect on his childhood while celebrating the future of Indian football:
“This third kit was an interesting gig because I got the creative freedom to basically create anything, and I wanted the concept to be something personal which represents my childhood, but at the same time represents the future of the kids who are playing football in India.”
Every area of the shirt carries a different meaning.
A clock tower represents Sehgal’s boarding school days, while a child sitting on a cloud looks down at the structure alongside a shooting star.
Another striking feature is the image of two festive elephants surrounding a golden moon, which holds particular significance for the artist.
The artist said: “There is a moon, and there are two elephants around it. The moon, being in the middle, is a representation of football, what football means to me.
“The back of the jersey is quite interesting because I went out of my way in life to do something different, and I think the fact that it is now coming together in a full-circle moment where it is a combination of art and football.
“We have motifs in our culture that tell us to ‘have your head on your shoulders, but do not get too excited’.”
Combining hand-painted artwork with traditional Indian block-printing techniques and embroidery, the jersey brings Indian craftsmanship into the world of elite European football.
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Sehgal added: “With this collaboration and the festival of Diwali, it is not just one artwork on a third kit that is going to Munich, but it is a lot of heritage, a lot of feelings.”
As a bespoke art piece, the special Diwali shirt is a one-off collector’s item and will not be available for sale or worn in matches.
Through Sehgal’s design, Bayern has turned a football shirt into a celebration of heritage, childhood memories and the shared passion that connects supporters across borders.
