By David Lalmalsawma

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Psychedelic and abstract prints dominated the catwalk on Saturday 27 March at India's largest fashion week where models in short hemlines danced to Elvis Presley hits.

The lively atmosphere on the third day of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week was in sharp contrast to its opening on Wednesday 24 March, when all shows were cancelled after officials failed to obtain mandatory fire permits in time.

Designer Poonam Bhagat's "Abstract Expressionism", based on the American art movement that began in the late 1940s, included short dresses in hot pink and burnt oranges patched with abstract designs.

"It is based on abstract expressionism…I was essentially painting, but instead of paint I used fabric through surface texturing," Bhagat said.

The show was dedicated to Elvis Presley, who was rocking the music world during the abstract art era.

Abhijeet Khanna's Autumn/Winter collection also consisted mostly of short dresses in flashy colours including pink, silver and orange.

As for Charu Parashar, she used Egyptian and Persian geometrics in prints using a myriad of colours from turquoise, ivory and yellow to sea green and fuchsia.

The collection included kaftans, hooded jumpsuits and jackets with metal headgear and chest armour thrown in.

"The clothes have a psychedelic look….a structurally futuristic look, very warrior-like," Parashar said.

Designer Kiran Uttam Ghosh was also inspired by Egypt for her collection, with tunics and flowing dresses in shades of ivory, olive and metallic.

"It was about controlled palette, a clear innuendo of Egypt," Ghosh said.