Bridal Jewelry

The wedding day is a special occasion for every bride. Swathed in bridal finery, bedecked in magnificent jewelry, with hands and feet and a flutter in her heart, she is poised at the threshold of a whole new life.

The jewelry that a bride wears holds special significance. Indian bridal jewelry itself varies from region to region as well as in different communities.

Usually, precious stones such as jade, garnet, emerald, amethyst, pearl and coral are widely used in Indian bridal jewelry. These stones are said to pass their own special healing touch to the wearer.

The mangal sutra is an important item in the bridal jewelry. This necklace is tied by the husband around the wife’s neck as a symbol of their union. This is usually created on a necklace strung with black beads. It is considered a protection against the evil eye.Brides usually make a few changes to suit their individual tastes, keeping well within the prescribed parameters.

A bride from South India wears a thaali as a symbol of their marriage. This is usually in the form of a thick yellow thread with gold pendant.

Brides from Maharashtra wear stings of pearls in a cascade from the temples down to the shoulders, framing the face. The Punjabi bride wears bangles that are made of ivory called churas. Some churas are set in ivory with inlay work done on them. They are given by the bride’s mother and it is customary to wear them for about 40 days after the wedding ceremony. Red and green bangles or churas are important in many communities of India..

The parting of her hair is decorated with a gold ornament called the tikka.

Toe-rings are another jewelry item that is worn by married women in many parts of the country. The women from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar wear toe-rings called bichwa. Kashmiri women wear a long suspended cord with an ornament from the pierced ears. Brides from Bengal wear the iron kada or bangle called loha. This is artistically encased in gold. A red lac bangle is yet another important bridal jewelry item.

Fine filigree jewelry in silver is a hallmark of the artisans of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Filigree work uses silver wires of varying thickness to make geometrical shapes, leaves, flowers and butterflies and birds. Jaipur is famous for enamel work – exquisite bangles and necklaces with colored enamel paneling on crafted gold.

Kundan jewelry also finds favor with many Indian brides. Kundan jewelry is characterized by gems embedded in gold leaf and not rim or claw. This jewelry style is inspired by the Mughals. Temple jewelry from South India is inspired by temple statues and motifs and is usually characterized by red and green semi precious stones. Jewelry in the southern states is inspired by nature – paisley motifs, rice grains, melon seeds, cobra head and birds.