Above: Indian Bridal Anklets
Above: Silver AnkletsIndian Anklets/Ankle Bracelet are are known as an payal,pajeb,jhaanjar,nupur or ghunghroo which are used to adorn the ankles.In India, anklets are worn on both ankles. These have been in use since ages & the fragile beauty of a woman's anklets get multiplied when ornamented with a pair of uniquely designed anklets, perfect piece of art. Indian anklets can easily gel well with both formal and casual wears & has become a quite fashion rage among all age groups, especially the teenage group.
Traditionally in use, anklets have even taken up the current fashion world with a storm & they are being worn by both young and unmarried women in India. Funky & chunky anklets can be seen adorning a woman's anklet in various parts of India. The beauteous ornament have also been found in India where it was of ornamentation and had great spiritual and social significance as well.
The anklets come with loving embellishments, intricate carvings and other fine artistry easily done on metal. Earlier they were made of silver or brass but their popularity has made the manufacturers try out other metals and experiment with traditional and contemporary designs
REFERENCES:
A first-century CE epic of Tamil literature called Cilappatikaram ("The story of the anklet") dealt with a woman whose husband was killed while trying to sell one of her anklets to a dishonest goldsmith. The anklets are described in great detail in the poem.
TYPES :
The anklets have always enhanced the dainty & feminine side with elegance. There are varied types of materials used for defining the shape of anklets available in traditional and chunky designing.
Ghunghru or ghunghroo are small bells that bharatnatyam, kathak, kuchipudi, and odissi dancers tie around their ankles.Salangai or the anklets wore by the dancers while performing Bharat Natyam constitutes the most important part of the Bharat Natyam costume.
Above:Ghunghroo
Rajasthani women wear the heaviest type of anklets, they are silver and signify tribals adherence. The women wear this for costume jewelry but also to show their bravery as a tribe against other rival tribes. The fashion for heavy anklets is declining in India now but is still common in the rural areas.
Tribal Anklets
The word jhangheer is a word for the anklet in Hindi and Punjabi. Jhangheer means chains. This is significant in that the anklet was a chain the woman wore in her marriage. Some of the anklets were heavy and difficult to walk in. The woman was reminded she was in chains and her husband her owner.
Above:Slave AnkletsJhanjhar in India, are made by tying links in a chain. Subsequently, sonorous bells can be attached to the chain, so that the wearer can make pleasing sounds while walking.
Above: Jhingling Jhanjars with bells
Above: Coin AnkletsThe variety of designs & finishing's adopted for completing the look of the anklets are in numerous which heavily depends on the quality of material to be used. Most of anklets are 22crt Micro Gold Polished so that the life of the gold polish will last for longer time.Anklets vary dramatically depending on the type, production methods, and materials.Common materials used to make anklets are Sterling Silver, Yellow Gold, Pearl, Beads(natural or man made), Gemstone and Shell
