India is a vast nation with different cultures and traditions that change in every few miles. This culture and tradition is reflected in Indian dresses, Indian footwear and Indian jewelry. The traditional dresses for women in India can be described in a nutshell as sari, salwar kameez and also ghagra cholis or lahengas. The latest hip hop fashion clothing has also caught on with the youth of the country leading to the amalgamation of the western outfits and ethnic Indian dresses.

Sari is the most traditional dress for Indian women. There are many varieties of sarees available in the market today. There is Kota sari that originates from Rajasthan, Masuria which is a specialty of Mysore, Lugade manufactured largely in Maharatra, Benarasi sari which is one the lavish saris around and is one of the most high costing forms of traditional dress. To go with these there are various other local or regional forms of sarees but their popularity is not as high as the above mentioned ones.

There are many types of matching ethnic jewelry that go with these dresses. Indian jewelry covers basically every part of the body from head to toe. There are varieties of necklaces, earrings, bracelets that are a specialty of the sub-continent. Right from the ‘tika’ on the forehead to nose rings and anklets for the toe, there are all types of finest fitting jewelry available. These Indian jewelries are found in various makes such as gold, silver, stones, etc. There are jewelries that signify a special thing such as the Mangalsutra, which denotes married Indian women. Kada which are thick gold encrusted bangles are usually worn by middle aged women.

With the popularity of the Indian film industry among the common masses the Bollywood fashion trends are catching up fast with Indian women as well. There is a shift in the trends of fashion seen on today’s date. There are numerous designers working everyday to make the actresses in Bollywood look like divas. And when a film becomes a blockbuster it usually gets many followers wanting the same kind of dress as their beloved actress has worn. When Kareena Kapoor starring in Chameli hit the screens the saris worn by the actress became highly popular among Bollywood sarees. Other films such as Devdas, Main Hoon Na and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam also set the world of Indian fashion on fire.

To chime with these gorgeous Indian dresses there are varieties of embroidered handbags, clutch pedal purses, wallets, and leather bags available in the market. Such items are found in places more than one. There are many stores that offer online ethnic fashion apparel such as Netherland Fashion. There are large varieties of bridal, wedding, party, festival and casual Indian fashion apparel found at this store. So adorn yourself with the best Indian dresses!

He put sindur and mangalsutra on me. does that mean i am married?
there wasnt any pundit or anything… we just love each other… would you indians out there consider this as a marriage?

About Author

Mode Indien is one the most prominent names in the Indian fashion scenario. They have one of the largest collections of dress items available online. With their years of experience they have recognized just what people want to wear whether it is a formal or an informal occasion.

The Tamil wedding ceremony is an array of traditions which give beauty sanctity to the wedding vows. A Tamil wedding consists of a group of traditional ceremonies.

A hall is booked as the venue and it is beautifully decorated with colored lights and fresh flowers A Tamil wedding is divided into three phases, namely:

a) The Pre Wedding Rituals

b) The Wedding

c) Post Wedding Rituals

The Pre Wedding rituals include

Panda Kaal Muhuratham
Vratham and Pallikai Thellichal
Naandi and Janavaasan
Nicchiyadharatham
Reading of Lagna Pathirigai.

Next comes the wedding day rituals, steeped in tradition.

The wedding day begins with the Oil, Haldi and Kumkum applied before the Mangal Snaanam or the purifying bath for the bride and groom.

Then follows the traditional Kashi Yatra

The groom goes and sits in the Mandap, where he meets the bride. The garlands are exchanged. Then follows the ritual of Oonjal, the couple sits on a swing and are given milk and bananas to eat along with rice balls, to ward off the evil eye.

After accepting the bride from her father,Muhuratham is the next stage, where the groom puts vermillion on the bride and puts Mangalsutra in her neck.

Finally they perform the Saptapadi or seven rounds around the sacred fire and take the seven vows together.

In the post wedding rituals;

Both the families exchange gifts, called Sammandhi Mariyathai, after which the bride leaves with her husband to her married home.

There is welcomed by the family with aarti . This is Grihaparvesham.

An informal reception takes place in the evening, where the guests meet the newlyweds and give them blessings, followed by a lavish dinner for all. Tamilians consider the months of Aashad (July15-Aug15) and Bhadrapad (Sept15-Oct15) as inauspicious and no ceremonies are conducted during these periods.

About Author

Sandhya Sasisekhar is a work at home mother. Sandhya’s website Tamil Matrimony reviews matrimonial websites. There are also articles about matrimonies on Tamil Matrimony. Visit india matrimonial sites for more information.

Mangalsutras are also differently designed in different communities.

For example, the Tamilians wear the taali, an extraordinarily crafted pendant, the Maharashtrians swear by the black and gold beads with the double ‘vati’ pendant, one ‘vati’ standing for the bride’s parents’ home and the other for her husband’s. The Kannadigas add corals while the Gujaratis and Marwaris often go for a diamond pendant. The Kashmiri Pandits wear an unusual mangalsutra that goes through the ears!

Historically, the custom of tying a ‘mangalsutra’, the auspicious emblem or cord, on the wedding day, appears to have become popular only after the 6th century AD.

Before this, a yellow protective cord known as ‘kankanabandhana’ was tied around the wrists of the bride and the groom to signal the commitment to marriage.

The ‘talis’ of the Brahmins are the simplest, while those of the non-Brahmins are often complex, stylised works of art. Forms and patterns for ‘talis’ are often derived from nature, using symbols like flowers, buds, leaves, trees and so on.

The black beads in the mangalsutra are believed to ward off the evil eye, while corals are worn for fertility…http://www.sitagita.com/view.asp?id=8135

Do women remove their mangalsutra while having sex?
Apparently, an Indian woman should never remove her Mangalsutra till her husband is alive. However, I was wondering if they remove it while having sex, since it is pretty inconvenient to wear it while performing the act. Also, chances of semen / urine falling on it are possible, which might not be right from a sanctity point of view. North Indian women wear red bangles for a month after their wedding. Do they have an option to remove it while having sex, to ease things?

About Author

Gold always Glitters, and its charisma will never fade out. India was a golden bird in ancient times. That means, gold has been a favorite metal for all since times immemorial. Gold had been famous jewellery amongst men, women, and even children. Men’s bracelet, gold rings, gold chains, gold pendants, etc are some of the men’s gold jewellery that is commonly worn amongst the people. At the time of marriages, gold is gifted to the bride from the groom’s side and groom is gifted from the bride’s parents to mark the auspicious occasion of marriage. Females have a wide variety of choice in terms of gold jewellery. Anklets, bangles, bracelets, earrings, ear-chains, sacred mangalsutra, necklaces, pendants, and much more specific gold jewellery with intricate design and studs are available online to view them, assess them and buy them. Babies are also adorned with gold jewellery at the time of their birth and on special occasions. Baby anklets, bracelets, earrings, gold chains, gold hoops and gold rings are some of the gold ornaments that are gifted with pride and pleasure. Gold has been available mostly in 24 carat and 22 carat in terms of purity. However recently gold jewellery is undergoing revolution and the designer jewellery is now available in 18 carat and 14 carat gold also due to its versatility and usage. More and more people are getting attracted towards white gold embedded diamond and precious stud jewellery. As diamond is gaining popularity gold jewellery is fading out and hence to get its glitter back, World Gold Council, Tanishq, Orra and many more established brands are designing gold into designer pieces which is definitely marked at premium prices and are getting popular amongst the new generation. The new concept of gold jewellery is attracting younger generation and teens also because of its intricateness and class appearances. Gold flower jewellery is also gaining importance due to its feminine and attractive designs. Females with modern outlook and western outfits choose intricate designer pieces with diamonds and pearls. These pieces are available more in 18 ct and 14 ct gold. These are very feminine and very fragile in appearances. All you have to do is to place an order on jewellery.homeshop18.com after choosing the right piece of jewellery, sitting at home.

Mangalsutra on a girl's neck indicates that she is married..how can u identify that a guy is married?

About Author

Author suggests to you purchase best n latest gold and diamond jewellery like gold earrings pendants, rings, sets, chains, bracelets, necklaces and many more.

From time immemorial, jewelry of all kinds has found its varied use in beautifying men and women around the world. Also known as ‘ornaments’, jewelry serve typically the purpose of enhancing the beauty of the fairer sex. Necklaces from sleek chains to heavy ones studded with diamonds, emeralds, classic pearl jewelry with matching earrings and maang tikas, mangalsutras, payals, finger rings, nose rings, baju bandhs, bangles and bracelets all glitters with pride in her jewelry box. However, the all time favorite for every woman remains to be the diamond. A precious stone, the glitters of it can make any woman shine and hence makes an essential part of her everyday wear and much treasured bridal jewelry.

Now, jewelry comes in all kinds and types. Depending on the budget, women nowadays have the option of choosing from such wide variety just as beaded jewelry, trendy bangles and costume jewelry. For those who prefer sticking to the traditions, classic pearl jewelry and kundan jewelry are good choices. But despite all these, fashionable diamond jewelry has never gone out of style.

Diamond jewelry of all kinds, whether it is a pendant, an engagement ring, or a pair of fashionable earrings claims prominence among other class of jewelry. The sheer beauty exhibited by diamonds out run all other metals such as gold and silver. A well formed proverb, that diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ is true. Though traditional gold jewelry always brings a better price when compared to diamond jewelry, yet diamond jewelry is the first and foremost choice of the modern woman. It’s not just a status symbol, but the new age women consider it to be part of their identity. Trendy, chic and modern, diamond jewelry are easy within the budget of everyone. Besides, it is the best gift you can present to your loved ones. A diamond ring is considered to be the first choice while deciding an anniversary gift and a diamond pendant is something you can always gift your sister or daughter. All the more, nothing matches the elegance and style of diamond jewelry. For example, a pair of fashionable diamond earrings worn with a gaudy saree can just help you steal the show. It is easy to carry, can be used on a regular basis and suited to all times. Sophisticated and stylish, diamond jewelry reflects the zeal, charisma and independent nature of the contemporary woman of today.

With the presence of online jewelry sites, buying diamond jewelry without any hassles has made it a favorite of the day. Not only can you and your beloved browse through the catalogue of fashionable earrings, you can even have a look at the available bangles and bridal jewelry at your convenience. So, as the star twinkles in the sky like a diamond, make your beloved shimmer with diamond jewelry. As her lifetime companion, this time on your anniversary, gift her with a pair of glittering fashionable diamond earrings or a ring that she can wear to office. Give her the ‘best friend of her life’ which will always remind her of you and brighten her life.

What should I do if I dont want to wear my mangalsutra but my husband and his parents want me to?
I got married a year and a half back and I have been wearing my mangalsutra pretty regulalry and I live in U.S.A. I really dont like to wear the mangalsutra because it doesn't go with western clothing and I don't see benefit to it. I don't think it enhances marriage; I think it is weird to show so much sentiment for an object. But my in-laws and husband are pretty adamant about me wearing it. What should I do?
I was also born and brought up in U.S.A.
My husband was mostly brought up in India.
I noticed that after I added that I was born and brought up in the U.S.A people started answering more negatively and saying that I should wear the mangalsutra. I don't know if this is just a coincidence or what.

About Author

Indijewelry.com is the authentic place when it comes to Indian Jewelry found online. Whether it is traditional jewelryor kundan jewelry that you are looking for, this site showcases the latest range of studded necklaces and beautiful Victorian jewelry from India.

Marriage planning begin from the day wedding date is fixed and your partner proposes you for the marriage. While it comes to the South Asian marriage, planning gets complicated for a number of rituals. By arranging these, lots of family member & even couple miss special moments and thrill of sari, mehendi, mangalsutra, priest, and number of guests. This day extravagancy is full of music, love, dance, food, family, and different colors and thus all are required to get captured through the South Asian wedding videography.

The South Asian wedding videography can help you to relive entire wedding procedure from your Pujas to Vidaai. It is very difficult to make the great video that captures all the reactions, pujas, fun, customs, rituals, and emotions and compile these in the presentable manner so your memories of that special day are still alive for many years. It requires creativity, proper use of the technology, skill and very important, passion to move the images. Pre-marriage rituals to multi-camera ceremony coverage to excitement of reception, these are captured through the wedding videography & gives you the memories for many years.

Various style of the South Asian wedding videography is been used to cover wedding. Photo Montage is the most famous types of the South Asian wedding videography where pictures of Bride & Groom from the childhood to their existing day are set with the music to make the story enjoying your love. In the same way you have an option of the love story that will include like how you met, the Bridal cinema, the coverage of your beautiful moments.

The South Asian Videography completely depends on types of the marriage and therefore the pricing varies with customization. It as well depends on number of camera that is used & duration. Various equipments & technologies are been used to make it much livelier. There are some important things that you must cross check prior to signing off the deal with videographer. Videographer must have experience and knowledge of South Asian wedding for doing best coverage of the wedding.

In case you hire both the photographer and the videographer it is very important both has the discussion. The video of wedding day permits you & your family to recollect memories for the generations to come. People who mean a lot to you, music, voices, emotions, joy and happiness, colors of South Asian wedding, come alive again on the Video. Art of the South Asian Wedding Videography is described as to get the colors on palette; editing process is a canvas.

where can find good designs for diamond mangalsutra?

About Author

south asian wedding videography completely depends on types of the marriage and therefore the pricing varies with customization. It as well depends on number of camera that is used & duration.

The significance of water at these ceremonies could be associated  to the purity of water in spiritual terms , or it could have evolved from that all enduring belief in the “fountain of eternal youth “ , endowing “water “with properties of miraculous powers to rejuvenate .While there is nothing such as ‘snan’ water that distinguishes it from ordinary water , except , perhaps , the magical effect of the mantras or prayers chanted by the priest ,elaborate ceremony rites associated with the “ritual of the bath”, continue to be performed to this day at almost all ceremonies , particularly weddings .

Much significance has been accorded to the bathing ritual or mangalsnan for both the groom and the bride-to-be, prior to the wedding ceremony. Apart from spiritual reasons , the belief goes ,that this tradition perhaps takes root in the “royal baths” , where the queens were anointed with aromatic oils and bathed in fragrant water baths filled with “attars” or rose petals, to make them look more beautiful for their kings .Since then ,through the ages , every bride for every prince charming has been following the same ritual for enhancement of her looks , with slight modification and variation in the actual ceremony form associated with each ceremony and religion .

For instance, it was customary, at one time, amongst Punjabis, for the girls, to remain in her old clothes for one or two days (or even more), before the wedding. This so called “Mayean pe gayen”, where the girl remained in her old clothes for a period of time , sitting in front of four diyas lit before her was considered essential , as it was believed that the light of the diyas would be reflected on her face , thereby making her glow and look more beautiful on the wedding eve !

The Punjabi ritual of the bath is still a rather elaborate one, beginning with the first step of getting “suitable holy water” for the bath. For “ghara ghardoli”, as this ceremony is so called , the ladies of the house , usually the bride/groom’s sisters , cousins , and bhabhis(sister-in-laws), led by a married sister who carries the “ghara” on her head ,placed over a pink chunni ,go to a nearby temple , to fetch the water for the bride/groom’s bath, to the accompaniment of songs , jokes and laughter . As she enters the house, she is welcomed by the mother of the bride or the groom as the case may be with sweets and an auspicious token of money and gifts for this occasion.

Is wearing 2 types of thaali (mangalsutra) in one chain acceptable?
My finace is Hindu & I am catholic. We plan to get married once in church & once in a temple. Can 2 thali's (mangalsutra) – one as per catholic tradition & one as per Hindu tradition be worn on a single chain?

About Author

Neeta Raheja is a leading wedding consultant. To learn more about India Wedding Planner, Online Wedding Consultants, wedding caterers, wedding customs and traditions, and more visit – www.weddingplanningmanagement.com

Every civilization has its legends regarding the rejuvenating properties of water, which is why, perhaps, all major religions in the country have rituals with water for all ceremonies and sanskars or purificatory rites as they are so called ; beginning with the “Nama Karna” , (the name giving ceremony ), to Kshaura (shaving ),which represents a person’s growth into puberty , and finally “vivah “ , the most important sanskar from society’s point of view.

The significance of water at these ceremonies could be associated  to the purity of water in spiritual terms , or it could have evolved from that all enduring belief in the “fountain of eternal youth “ , endowing “water “with properties of miraculous powers to rejuvenate .While there is nothing such as ‘snan’ water that distinguishes it from ordinary water , except , perhaps , the magical effect of the mantras or prayers chanted by the priest ,elaborate ceremony rites associated with the “ritual of the bath”, continue to be performed to this day at almost all ceremonies , particularly weddings .

Much significance has been accorded to the bathing ritual or mangalsnan for both the groom and  the bride-to-be, prior to the wedding ceremony . Apart from spiritual reasons , the belief goes ,that this tradition perhaps takes root in the “royal baths” , where the queens were anointed with aromatic oils and bathed in fragrant water baths filled with “attars” or rose petals, to make them look more beautiful for their kings .Since then ,through the ages , every bride for every prince charming has been following the same ritual for enhancement of her looks , with slight modification and variation in the actual ceremony form associated with each ceremony and religion .

For instance , it was customary, at one time , amongst Punjabis , for the girls , to remain in her old clothes for one or two days (or even more ) , before the wedding . This so called “Mayean pe gayen”, where the girl remained in her old clothes for a period of time , sitting in front of four diyas lit before her was considered essential , as it was believed that the light of the diyas would be reflected on her face , thereby making her glow and look more beautiful on the wedding eve !

The Punjabi ritual of the bath is still a rather elaborate one , beginning with the first step of getting “suitable holy water” for the bath . For “ghara ghardoli”, as this ceremony is so called , the ladies of the house , usually the bride/groom’s sisters , cousins , and bhabhis(sister-in-laws), led by a married sister who carries the “ghara” on her head ,placed over a pink chunni ,go to a nearby temple , to fetch the water for the bride/groom’s bath, to the accompaniment of songs , jokes and laughter . As she enters the house , she is welcomed by the mother of the bide or the groom as the case may be with sweets and an auspicious token of money and gifts for this occasion.

The boy /girl is then anointed with ‘vatna’, a paste of haldi  and oil , after which they are expected to bathe with holy water brought from the temple and presented with new clothes by the mama, or maternal uncle, while the old ones are given usually to the sweeper.
In Gujaratis too , the bathing ritual for the boy is performed in much the same way as the girl’s to the singing of traditional songs. The “snaan” ceremony is conducted on the day of the wedding , with 8-10 married women of the family applying turmeric and oil on their bodies and hair. While in Maharashtra , this “tel halad” ceremony is usually performed a day before the wedding , by the young unmarried girls from the bride’s side along with perhaps one married woman as chaperone , applying the uptan paste on to the boy. Beginning with the feet upwards till the head , the oil and turmeric is rubbed on to his body with a “naagveli” or the leaf of a betel.

In Bengalis too, the “snan” or bathing ritual takes place on the wedding day , in the evening or late afternoon, depending on the time of the “lagan” or wedding ceremony.
It is conducted in the same manner for both the boy and the girl , here again the married women , about 8-10 in number , apply turmeric and oil on the on the hair and body of the boy and the girl as the case may be . During snan both of them wear new clothes sent in by each other’s families , after the ceremony , these are gifted to the “napit” or barber.

Although called by different names in different communities , the significance of “snaan” ritual remains consistent , the customs , ofcourse ,vary from religion to religion . In Muslims , for instance, at the “manjha” ceremony , the haldi lapetan is only performed by the unmarried girls on the bride-to-be. The haldi and fragrant chameli oil are sent by the boy’s family. The girl restricts herself to wearing yellow clothes in keeping with the colour of the haldi ,and does not wear any jewellery. After this ceremony , she does not move out of her house or change her clothes until the wedding.

In the brahmin Iyer community from TamilNadu, “uday shanti” , as this ceremony is called , takes place in the morning of the wedding. The girl is made to sit on a low stool or “palaha”, around which ‘kolam’, or decorative rangoli is done. To the singing of traditional songs , the ladies of the house first apply chandan and kumkum on her forehead , the mother then puts oil in her hair, this is followed by anointing the body with haldi paste and  a bath , after which the girl is gifted a new sari.

The same ceremony for the groom , is , however, carried out by the ladies from the girl’s side who visit the boy’s place or the place where the baraat is lodged, to the accompaniment of “nada swaram” , a shehnai like musical instrument, carrying with them ingredients for the boy’s bath , such as til oil, shikakhai and fragrant sandalwood powder. Gifts also include sweets and tambul in the form of coconut, paan supari , fruits and flowers (mainly venis and mogra flowers for the ladies from the boy’s family)

Mangalsnaan , as the name implies , has since times immemorial , been considered an auspicious occasion , the rituals , however , were more elaborate than they are now. Gone are the days when oil and chandan , the turmeric , sandal , besan , were ground to perfection for that special day , by the ladies of the household day , when they anointed the bodies of the groom and bride-to-be and even gave them a complete bath . Today’s “grooms” and “brides” , being older and modern prefer to take their own baths , and hence only a token ceremony is performed.
So even though this ritual is still considered obligatory by almost all communities for spiritual purposes , the actual “snaan”, has been replaced ,perhaps to a mere scientific process , with the emergence of beauty specialists and therapists offering a varied choice of “baths”, as in Turkish , sauna , mud or whirlpool !

Has anyone done serious research work on different types of thaali/ Mangalsutra worn by women in India ?
Has anyone done any scientific research on this?

For instance, Thali designs are very specific to specific castes / sub-castes, especially in the south of India

Is there any website which has documented these ? (preferably ! with pictures)

please do not give links to pages from Jewelery Shops
–

Do you know anyone in real life who is working on this ?

About Author

For more detail plz visit http://indianweddingassociation.com

Hindu Weddings in India are known for its great pomp and show. The wedding ceremonies extend over a period of four to five days. These ceremonies are based on great Indian traditions and customs. In addition to this, the Indian weddings are considered as an important sacrament of the Hindu religion. Hindu weddings are one among sixteen cultural practices a devout Hindu has to go through. Hindu marriages are not only a union of two hearts but two families as well. For this holy union a large number of customs have to be followed. These customs are divided into three parts, pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding ritual.

The Pre Wedding Rituals are beginning of wedding ceremony. The pre wedding rituals consists of engagement, tilak, sagai, sangeet and mehandi. The Engagement ceremony is marked by the exchange of rings by prospective brides and grooms. The next ceremony is Tilak ceremony, wherein the girl’s brother applies tilak (red mark) on the groom’s forehead and offers him gifts. Next is the Sagai ceremony wherein bride and groom sides exchange gifts. The next part of pre wedding rituals is Sangeet ceremony, in which women and girls of both the families sing and dance to enjoy these moments. The next and last part of the wedding rituals is Mehandi ceremony in which mehndi or henna is applied on bride’s hands, palms and feet in an artistic way. It is one of the important aspects of Hindu weddings in India.

On the main day of Wedding the wedding ceremony begin with Jaimala, the ceremony in which the bride and the groom exchange flower garlands in the presence of their friends and relatives. This ceremony is followed by Kanyadaan for which the bride and groom arrive to the mandap to perform this custom. This ritual is considered very significant because it is the ritual in which the bride’s father gives his daughter’s hand to the groom. This moment is sanctified with mantras chanted by priests. The next thing is Mangalpheras which is performed around the holy fire. The couple also take the seven vows called Saptapadi, and make promise to stand by each other through all thick and thins. This ceremony is followed by the groom putting sindoor or vermillion in the bride’s hair parting. Then the groom ties mangalsutra around the bride’s neck.

After completion of wedding ceremony the Post-Wedding Rituals starts. The post wedding rituals consist of vidaai and reception. The Vidaai ceremony is the event in which bride leaves her ancestral home to join grooms family. When the couple arrives at the groom’s house, the proud groom’s mother welcomes them with aarti. After completion of some other rituals a grand reception party is organised to introduce bride to the grooms family and society.

I have put a mangalsutra in her neck and also i hv applied the red powder in her hair- is this legal marriage?
It was in my car that i did to her. no one knows but us both but now she is searching for a boy for marriage.

I m confused now wether i m married or no?

About Author

Harrymax is the author of India Wedding Planner which gives an insight into the Hindu weddings in India. Hindu weddings are sacred affairs to join two families for a happy journey for life.

For Indian women, embellishing themselves with ornaments is synonymous with beautifying their spirit. Indian women love to adorn themselves with beautiful and elaborate necklaces and jewelry as a tool to accentuate their feminity. Not only does donning jewelry signify the beautification of the body, but, also signifies the wealth possessed by the woman.

One would notice different sorts of jewelry donned by women at different stages of their lives, including, pre-marital life, marital stage and also when they make their endeavors to seek good fortune and dispel bad luck. The process of a woman donning her complete attire on is called solah shringaar, wherein she dons sixteen ornaments, from head to toe, to dress her self completely.

She prepares herself for her Solah Shringaar for prestigious occasions like her wedding or her near one’s wedlock. Here’s a glimpse on few ornaments that comprise the solah shringaar: Bindi: This is a small designed ornament meant to be worn at the center of the forehead. In spiritual terms it represents the invisible third eye associated with mythical powers, whereas in religious terms, it represents a wedded woman. It is an important part of a married woman’s shringaar.

But now days, in times of the society adapting modern ways of life, bindi is nothing more than an ornament to accentuate one’s beauty, nevertheless the married status. Earrings are another ornaments used for beautifying oneself. Though gold is still the predominant metal used for adornment by Indian women, there is an upsurge of earrings made in semi-precious gemstones, silver and other cheap metals.

Earrings could range from long danglers to small studs. Nose ring is another piece of jewelry traditionally worn by married women, but, now worn as a style statement by many unmarried women. Nose rings may vary from a diamond studded ring to gold nose rings to a semi-precious stone studded nose rings. Traditionally, nose rings are made to be worn by girls in right from their adolescent age of 5. Other varieties of nose accessories include Nose rings (Nath) which are also favorably worn by children. As observed after when the Indian girl gets engaged, her nose ring is exchanged with a stone studded gold nose ring. Indian women just love to wear elaborate stones-studded necklaces to enhance their beauty.

Unmarried women are however supposed to wear nothing more than a sleek gold chain, but this was observed some ten years ago. Mangalsutra, an auspicious necklace made in black colored beads and gold / diamond as per the choice the woman. This necklace is worn by married Indian women as a symbol of honor to her auspicious marriage. The style and appearance of mangalsutra varies and changes with different regions with different cultures.

It may be a gold ornament strung from a yellow thread as observed in south or a string of black beads strung with a pendant observed in the north. Bangles comprise form yet another major element of the shringaar. They are believed to be the sign of their marriage and are worn as symbolic guards over their husbands. Kada ( thick gold encrusted bangles) are worn by women of middle age. These Kadas might be enclosed or with a detachable screw.

Finger Rings, toe rings and anklets are yet another Indian ornaments worn by women both married and unmarried. These ornaments are made of gold and silver preferably. In addition to these ornaments there is mangtikka, an ornament worn on the forehead at the partition of the hair. It is usually a small chain strung with a pendant clasped to the hair. With a vast cultural arena of India, just a page giving glimpse on its traditional jewelry would not suffice. The article continues as Indian jewelry from head to toe part 2. TERMINOLOGY: solah shringaar- dressing oneself Bindi: Sticking ornament applied on the center of the forehead. Nath: Nose ring Mangalsutra: Black-beaded necklace Kada: Enclosed thick bangle Mangtikka: Thin chain with a pendant worn on the forehead.

my friends marriage was conducted in a hindu temple by putting goldchain with mangalsutra & exchanging garland?
her marriage is not registered so far( married on sep2008) and they are living separately since marriage bcos of family circumstances.its remarriage for both of them.is their marriage valid?

About Author