Indian Bridal Jewellery
Indian marriages are always celebrated in a grand way and Indian Bridal Jewelry forms a very important part of the overall attire of an bride.Beautification of the bride with sixteen adornments is known as the Sola Sringar and is one essential major ritual of Indian Hindu wedding. In this ritual, the bride is adorned from head to toe with traditional Indian Jewelry. According to Hindu custom and rituals, Sola Sringar is a mandatory practice and the bride’s friends, aunt’s and other female relatives actively participate to adorn the bride.
On her wedding day, an Indian bride comes across as a picture of beauty and grace. To imagine an Indian wedding without jewelries is completely impossible.In fact, the bridal look is believed to be incomplete unless the bride wears each and every piece of the jewelry meant for her.
In majority of the Indian weddings, you will find the bride wearing 22K yellow gold jewelry without any stones. However, depending on the budget, some people might opt for silver, platinum, white gold or diamond jewelry as well. Precious stones, such as ruby, jade, garnet, emerald, amethyst and pearl, are also widely used in Indian bridal jewelry. While you might see some variation in the bridal jewelry, depending on the particular region of the country where it is taking place, the basic items remain the same.
Elements Of Indian Bridal Jewelry
Mangal Sutra (Necklace with Black Beads)
The most important part of the bridal jewelry is mangal sutra. However, it is not worn by the bride before the marriage. Rather, it is tied by her husband around her neck during the wedding rituals, as symbol of their union. It comprises of a string of black beads, with a gold or diamond pendant.
Chooda (Indian Bridal Bangles)
Indian Bridal bangles are known as Choora/Chura/Chooda and are the special types of set of bangles, which are worn by a bride at the time of her marriage. Originally these bangles are made out of elephant's tusk.Before marriage the bride's maternal uncle put Chura in the arms of bride. Usually these bangles are in red, white, ivory and maroon colors.
Shringar Patti/Matha Patti (Indian Bridal Tiara)
Shringar patti can be described as a kind of tiara, usually in gold, which adorns the forehead of the bride. It is placed along her hairline and has a circular plaque in the middle, which hangs below the hair line (on the forehead).
Maang Tikka(Forehead jewelry)
Maang Tikka can be said to be a shortened version of the shringaar patti. It comprises of a string, with a center piece attached to one end and a hook to the other. It is worn by the bride in center parting of the hair.
Jhoomer or Pasa (Indian Hair Jewelry)
While teeka is worn in the center parting, Jhoomar or Pasa is a headpiece that is worn on the side.Jhoomer is a fan shape hair ornament worn on the left side of the head.It is a popular accessory for Indian Bride. Jhoomar and Maang Tikka are never worn together as it gives an all decked up look.
Pachlada or Satlada (Indian Bridal Necklaces)
The outfit of a bride is incomplete without the bridal necklace.Pachlada is a five string necklace, while Satlada is a seven string necklace. The strings of necklaces are usually made by with gold,pearls or kundan with pendant hanging in the center.
Nath (Nose Ring with Chain)
Nath forms yet another important part of the bridal jewelry. It comprises of a studded nose ring, which has a long chain attached to it. The chain is hooked up in the hair of the bride, above the ear.
Hathphool/Panja (Slave Bracelet with Rings)
Hathphool is a beautiful piece of jewelry that adorns the wrist as well as the fingers of the bride. It comprises of a bracelet, with one of the more strings attached to it, having rings(s) at the other end.
Anguthi (Finger Rings)
On the right thumb of the bride there is a "Arsi Angoothi(Ring)" which is a big round ring with a mirror mounted in place of a stone and surrounded by gemstones or pearls.Brides use this mirror to get a glimpse of their to-be husband during the wedding ceremony. This ring may be worn alone or as a part of Hathphool.
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| Bridal Arsi Ring with a Mirror |
Bichhua (Toe Ring)
An essential part of the bridal jewelry, in many states of India, bichhua comprises of a toe ring, usually in silver. It is also regarded as one of the signs of a married woman and is worn in pairs only.
Payal (Anklet)
Along with the toe ring, a bride is always required to wear payal, also known as pajeb, as a part of her wedding jewelry. It adorns the ankle of a bride, is made of silver (mostly) and has meenakari, kundan or beads as decorations.
Kamarband (Waist Band)
In the earlier times, the bride used to wear the kamarband around her waist. A heavy piece of jewelry, it was meant to support the wedding dress and keep in place. These days, it might or might not be worn by the bride.
Baaju Band (Arm Bands)
Baju band used to be a necessary part of the bridal jewelry, at one point of time in the past. However, these days, wearing it is optional. Some brides might wear one in each of the arms, while other may go for a single piece only.
Choori Churi Chudiyan (Colored Indian Metal Bangles )
No Indian wedding is complete without brightly colored Indian Metal Bangles known as Churi or Chudiyan.These may be made of glass or metal. A few days before the wedding, there is a bangle-ceremony where the family of the bridegroom goes over to the bride's home with bangles for the bride.A brides sister or friend helps her put these bangles at the time of the pre-wedding ceremonies.According to Hindu culture, there are five signs of marital status of women. They are mangalsutra, Toe rings, Kumkum, bangles and a nose ring. Colored Indian Metal Bangles are the most important among them.When a woman's husband dies she has to break these bangles and never wear them again.
Kada or Kangan (Indian Wedding Bracelets)
These are thick bracelets, and are typically ornamented with kundan, meenakari, diamonds, or crystals instead of plain regular gold bangles. They may be made in motifs like peacock, elephant etc.
Choti (Indian Braid Jewelry)
Choti is a traditional Indian Bridal Hair accessory or ornament for braid decoration.Choti is a long jewel worn on the length of a braid.Gorgeous choti is worn from the top where your braid would start and usually covers the entire braid depending on the length of your hair.
Jhumka (Indian Dangle Chandelier Earrings)
Indian jewellery trousseau is incomplete without exquisite jhumkas. Jhumkas or Jhumkis are striking and exotic very large size chandelier earrings in circular or conical dome/bell shape
