The Birlas unite in Paris as Advaitesha Birla represents India at le Bal 2023, celebrating both social causes and couture

It all starts with a father-daughter dance followed by the girl’s cavalier—her brother—stepping in and taking her away to waltz with him. This symbolises the daughter's coming of age where the father has taken care of his daughter till she's almost grown up and it's time for the cavalier to step in and hold her as she makes her debut into the world.

In a world driven by social media algorithms and viral trends, some institutions continue to preserve and further the regency charm of debutante balls. While the idea of “debuting” a woman to the world sounds archaic in today’s day and age, le Bal des Débutantes gives the institution a whole new meaning and purpose. 

Started in 1994 in Paris by Ophélie Renouard (the Anna Wintour of Europe in many ways), le Bal celebrates youth, excellence, the rightful claiming of power by women, and the harmony of nations. Each year, the debutantes—alongside their cavaliers—dance to raise money for charity. The doors of the regal Shangri La Paris welcome 20 inspiring debutantes—selected for the outstanding impact they’ve been able to create through social development initiatives despite not being adults—along with their cavaliers and families to partake in one of the most significant events of their dearest girl’s life.

le Bal primarily raises money for two charities: Necker-Enfants Malades and World Central Kitchen.

Necker-Enfants Malades is the first children’s hospital in the world which comprises the ARCFA: Association for Research in Cardiology from Fetus to Adult, an organisation that aims to improve the quality of care for children with heart defects. The American charity, WCK: World Central Kitchen, provides meals in the wake of crises in different parts of the world.

“I knew this would be an experience of a lifetime for her,” says Neerja Birla, mother of Advaitesha Birla—the only Indian debutante at le Bal des Débutantes 2023. Neerja Birla is the founder and chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET). She is a leader for mental health in India and a strong advocate for education and fitness.

“It all comes naturally to Advaitesha. She didn’t need any convincing because she was highly driven to participate in an event that brings together two things that matter to her the most—social cause and fashion,” recalls the proud mother. Advaitesha (20) is the youngest of the three Birla scions. Her siblings, Ananyashree (29) and Aryaman Vikram (26) are trailblazers in their respective fields. 

A purely invite-only affair, le Bal is one of the most exclusive events in the world; it can easily be described as the Met Gala of Europe. The debutante list is curated after a lot of introspection and features only the creme de la creme of the world. The event is dominated by attendees from Europe and the U.S., although it does feature Asian debutantes of different nationalities. And India has been well represented at le Bal since the 2000s with attendees including Princess Gauravi Kumari and Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur, Isha Ambani, Shaiyra Devi of Kapurthala, Ananya Panday, Aria Mehta, and Shanaya Kapoor among others.

When the exclusive 2023 invite from Ophélie Renouard reached Advaitesha, she was aware of the honour and responsibility bestowed upon her. “It was a no-brainer that I’d wear an Indian designer. No second thoughts.” she adds.

Advaitesha wore a custom red Sabyasachi gown which had a classic silhouette, almost like a second skin. She paired the outfit with a stunning diamond set from VMuse—le Bal’s jewellery partner—which dates back to the 1770s; it was previously owned by Princess Marie Anne, the daughter of Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France. Advaitesha also chose a dazzling Sabyasachi saree for her mother.

Reflecting on her daughter’s time at le Bal, Neerja Birla recalls being as excited as her daughter, if not more. Watching her young girl, who played dress up in her closet till a few years ago, go on to represent the country on a night of social impact, glitz, and such great repute, is an accomplishment. Mrs Birla has also watched Advaitesha start a social enterprise with the Aditya Birla Education Trust, helmed by Mrs Birla herself. So, watching her daughter’s success is a rather familiar feeling.

At the age of 17, with her mother's guidance, Advaitesha set up Ujaas, an initiative dedicated to mentstrual health and hygiene. The initiative aims to create a positive and sustainable impact on the menstrual health landscape in India by reducing period poverty and empowering adolescent girls and women to adopt effective menstrual health and hygiene management practices.

From a very young age, Advaitesha strongly believed that change needs to be driven from the grassroots level to ensure maximum impact and overall societal transformation. Women's empowerment and gender equality are subjects close to Advaitesha's heart. Having realised the realities of age-old menstrual stigmas and outdated practices in the lives of countless women, Advaitesha chose to work to make a difference in this space.

A tightly knit powerhouse, the Birla family looked stunning as they graced the floor at le Bal. “She (Advaitesha) looked gorgeous. She made us feel very proud. I felt overwhelmed and emotional looking at her all grown up, but she looked amazing,” recollects Mrs Birla.

“All the parents at le Bal were so proud of their daughters,” adds Mrs Birla, talking about the other families she met there. “We saw children of similar ages from various parts of the planet. It was a big melting pot of cultures. We were of 22 different nationalities, but this unity and love as parents tied us together. That is what brought us to le Bal in the first place and then filled us with immense pride.”

“The fact that I was chosen to represent my country is something I will always hold very close to my heart,” remarked Advaitesha. Now that she has debuted in high society and is under the spotlight representing the country, she aims to talk about menstrual health and hygiene on a global level. Her doting mother—her source of inspiration, stands by her side with a clarion call: “There are no shortcuts to success, so dream big, and then follow it!”