Women have deep attachment to jewelry and accessories. When we are shopping dress we do not forget to look for matching jewelry set for particular dress. These jewelries can sometime accentuate the dress and wearer themselves.
Such beautiful pieces of ornament are considered as prized possessions by women of all ages. And some of these prized possessions are handed down from one generation to another making it a priceless heirloom of the family.
Women can never say no to jewelry and shopping. Traditional Indian wedding is all about celebrations, colors, opulence, sparkle and jewelry and all they play determining role in this family event of dream, splendor and excitement. But it is important to purchase these expensive adornments with great care in order to ensure quality and value.
Indian jewelry has been a valuable part in any Indian culture. They are as old as Indian civilization itself. The great Indian epics—the Ramayana and the Mahabharata—mention the intricate designs and craftsmanship of the jewelers of the yore. The Silappadikaram—an ancient Tamil classic—talks about a society dealing in gold, pearls and precious stones. Mughal Empire brought further embellishments in intricate jewelry designs. The fusion of Hindu and Muslim designs and patterns of jewelry resulted elegance, exquisite and extravagance. Mughals jewelry also encouraged the enameling of jewelry to give shine to reverse side of it (jewelry).
Jewelry in ancient times was not only an adornment, but each stone was endowed with a mystical quality and used as a protection against evil forces. The navaratna or nine gems, each sacred to a planet, are worn in a particular order for the same reason till date. The maniratna, called the serpent stone, was used as a talisman to protect the wearer. Rudraksha and Tulsi seeds and sandalwood beads are even worn today by Hindu while worshipping.
Indian jewelry boasts for being most elaborate designs in the world. It has unique colors and designs. Jewelry from India is very diverse and can be found in all different colors, shapes, sizes and styles. Bangles, bracelets, maang tika, necklaces, rings, earrings, nose rings, toe rings, and even anklets provide plenty of ways for women to express themselves along with their choice of cloth. Right from the hair to toe, there are jewelry pieces to highlight the beauty of the Indian women. We can see the richness and uniqueness in Indian jewelry in Indian traditional and classical dance forms such as Kuchipudi, Kathak or Bharatnatyam.
Styles vary with the region of the country, and there are many different traditional items. The bride usually wears maang tika, a chain with a stone on her forehead or as ornate crown. A nath is a nose ring that attaches to an earring with a thin chain, and a payal is an anklet. Mangal sutra, special necklace with black beads and a gold or diamond pendant, is an important jewelry for Indian brides. Hathpool (flowers for the hand), sometimes called Panchangala (or jewel for the five fingers), from Rajasthan is Kundan set flower-encrusted bracelet with stone-set chains leading to another flower on the back of the palm and similar chains connecting it to the five rings on the five fingers, each ring with a different flower motif.
In India, jewelry has not just traditional and aesthetic value, but is also considered as a source of security in times of financial crisis. The amount of jewelry owned by a woman also signifies her status. The ornate gold, silver, and platinum jewelry symbolizes power, femininity and wealth.
The beauty of Indian jewelry lies in the uniqueness of its design and the efforts of the workmanship involved in creating the intricate designs that can have its own matching attire.