Indian jewelry is the most preferred and very popular flashy jewelry in recent times. Besides the beauty of the Indian clothes, their jewelry also draws attention. Indian jewelry from India dazzles beauty. Let’s take a look at the most beautiful Indian jewelry that has been popular with women lately.
Indian jewelry has as remarkable features as the colorful clothes of Indian women. We wouldn’t be wrong to say “show off” and “exaggeration”, the two words that best summarize Indian jewelry. Even the simplest models are bigger than the standard sizes. Necklaces and earrings adorned with pendulums are among the jewelry that is widely preferred. While many types of jewelry may have different color options, we see that the yellow color stands out in Indian jewelry. It is certain that Indian beliefs also have an effect on this.
The fame of Indian jewelry, which is famous all over the world and we have seen in all the Indian movies and series we watch, has crossed all borders. Indian jewelry and Indian clothing, which are indispensable in India’s traditions, are preferred by brides and most women who love to dress up. There are beautiful types of Indian jewelry that harmonize with these charming clothes. These include earrings, necklaces, bracelets, hair accessories, ear accessories, brooches, and rings.
According to the estimates of gold market experts, half of the gold in the world is in India. When this amount of gold is collected in a country, it becomes inevitable that it will be among the most important business areas. The fact that Indian women see gold as the biggest investment tool and guarantee has led to the development of gold jewelry workmanship day by day. When it comes to flashy jewelry, Indian jewelry is undoubtedly one of the first to come to mind.
Brief Information About Indian Jewelry
According to ancient books, Indian jewelry is a kind of reflection of the inner world and well-being of the fair sex. With their help, one can express him/herself easily. It is similar to dancing when gestures are used instead of words. Traditionally, such items were worn for any occasion or with a specific idea. For example, certain things in women’s clothing fulfill the protective role of amulets.
Nowadays, more and more women prefer jewelry according to their preferences. The elegantly dressed woman is the personification of the ideal beauty and mystery inherent in nature and music. Each piece of decoration is rightly and consistently woven into the general symbolic form and image pattern. Today, women choose jewelry according to their own preferences. Recently, however, more meaning has been added to jewelry. Regardless of how to read the text in a book, a lot can be learned from jewels about their owner.
A special necklace “Mangalsutra” will indicate a woman’s marriage, bracelets – the number and gender of the children, and the material of manufacture – belonging to a particular caste. So, for example, women from the upper classes were allowed to wear gold bracelets. Indian women have a strong love for jewelry. They prefer to wear accessories every day and wear their best during the holidays.
Jewelry is perceived by the Indians not only as jewelry but also as a remedy. For example, a nose ring can help relieve pain during labor. Rings on the fingers help the brain function and toe accessories help regulate the menstrual cycle. Earrings are not only an elegant decoration but also protection from evil spells and evil influences.
Indian women believe that love and prosperity come to the family with new jewels. It is also a way to show your family’s well-being. The variety of Indian jewelry knows no bounds. As well as traditional earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, in short, the jewelry that we are used to seeing every day, ankle bracelets, toe rings, bindi forehead, head jewelry, nose earrings, and “Sarpechi” – a decoration for hats are used all the time. Traditional Indian jewelry can be divided into several groups: Indian head jewelry, earrings for the nose and ears, necklaces, bracelets, and rings.
Meanings of Indian Jewelry
Jewelry that people wear defines and exhibits how they perceive life, their beliefs, their role, and their position in society. No matter where in the world, when you see an Indian woman, there is always a “Bindi” in the middle of her forehead. You can call it make-up, jewelry, or a sign. According to Hindu beliefs, the middle part of the forehead is considered the place of the soul in the human body, or the place where the 3 eyes are located.
Indians who live in meditation hope that the “bindi”, which is in the middle of their foreheads, opens. In a sense, it will be a whole according to the subconscious and above beliefs. In a sense, this is also a symbol of a spiritual journey. Their clothes that they integrate with jewelry are usually very colorful. This multi-color and diversity is common in jewelry, clothing, and their lives. Clothes are very important for Indian women.
They combine their clothing, which they believe in their sacredness, sometimes with jewelry made of gold, silver, and precious stones, and sometimes with jewelry made with the seeds of some plants. The “saree” they tied around their head is the indispensable head tie of an Indian woman. This headdress (saree), one end of which is wrapped around the shoulder and the other is attached to the head, is adorned with ample jewelry. Their feet are usually bare when wearing these multi-colored garments. According to a belief, touching the earth (nature) causes them to feel in nature. There are ankle bracelets on their feet most of the time.
We see that the art of ornamentation and decoration, which is the determinant of the lifestyle in Indian culture, has spread over a period of 5000 years. The fondness for bodily ornaments is almost an “expression” beyond being adorned, especially in women. In addition to bringing the natural beauty of the woman to the foreground, she has features that describe her lifestyle, philosophy, and religious beliefs. They have a rich design developed in line with their beliefs.
Attracting the attention of the gods is one of their purposes. The other is; A woman (even if she is poor) can fill this deficiency with the ability to wear jewelry. A reputation for society gains trust. Painting nails, wearing dozens of necklaces and bracelets in daily life, head ornaments, and embroidered clothes on special occasions such as births and weddings are of great importance in their beliefs and lives. So much so that; The Indian Manu law dictates that certain jewelry be worn on certain days.
Some features that distinguish a married woman from a single woman are immediately evident with the jewelry they use. A married woman can wear a nose ring, but a single girl cannot. Apart from that, the make-up and the colors they use on their faces indicate whether a woman is married or single.
Indians’ Passion for Gold Jewelry
According to experts’ estimates, half of all gold worldwide is in India. Hindus see gold as a guarantee. Women especially want to secure their future. The appreciation of gold in international markets does not seem to end. Gold prices have now reached a new record high. This precious yellow metal is considered an assurance that works in difficult times in many countries. Especially in India.
Think that you are in hundreds of years old jewelry store located in one of the narrow streets of Old Delhi. There are about 15 customers inside. However, this is a very low figure. Normally, up to 80 customers can be served at the same time. Precious stones, gold necklaces, finely crafted rings, and brooches stand out in the showcases. Jeweler Krishna Mallick knows what gold means to Hindus, thanks to his decades of experience.
“First of all, it’s about looks and fashion. But gold especially means security. You can always convert gold into money. Hindus don’t trust mutual funds or the like. They just trust gold,” Mallick says. A female customer also qualifies the jeweler and states that the gold gives them a sense of confidence: “We Hindus value gold because you can resell it in difficult times. Especially as a woman, when you have gold, you get the feeling that you have something real, concrete.”
Hindu women really value gold. But not just as jewelry. Though, abundant gold jewelry symbolizes wealth, especially in rural areas. However, the important thing is where the gold comes from. If the woman brought gold with her while she was getting married, gold belongs to the woman in case of divorce. Jeweler Mallick describes it as “women’s gold”. These gold, which the Hindus define as “Strid-Han”, are also guaranteed by law.
Most married women do not earn money. This is reason enough for Hindu fathers to equip their daughters with gold. A customer in the jewelry shop confirms this with the words “I buy about 800 euros of gold. My daughter will get these when she gets married. All women in my family must have at least 40 grams of gold.” 40 grams of pure gold costs about one thousand 300 euros. This is a very small amount to secure one’s future but still better than having nothing. In addition, there are gold gifts given by relatives at the wedding.
Gold is the second most imported raw material in India after oil. More than 300 tons of gold were imported last year. This is about 3.5 percent more than the previous year. The International Monetary Fund recently sold as many as 400 tons of gold. 200 tons of this went directly to Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and India. Ashwani Mahajan, one of India’s leading economists, estimates that half of the world’s gold is found in India. However, it is difficult to prove this with certainty.
“Every household has gold. If you estimate the average rate per household, then you can conclude that more than half of the gold available today is bought by the Hindus,” says Mahajan. However, some changes are also noticeable in modern India today. The tradition of buying and owning gold in the country is not as strong as it used to be.
Families prefer to invest in their daughters’ education rather than gold. Investors are also turning to real estate and investment funds. However, everyone still wants to have gold. If most of the approximately 1 billion 200 million Hindus start to buy gold again, it is thought that the prices will increase even more in the future.
Indian Jewelry: The Red Dye on Indians’ Foreheads
The dots of different colors on the middle of the foreheads of Indian women are called “Bindi” and are believed to keep away from bad thoughts. This point, which is black in single women and red / orange in married women, is located in the middle of the forehead, which is because the soul is believed to be the place in the human body (3rd Eye). “Bindi” s, which are also a symbol of the spiritual journey, are also used as accessories. These traditional ornaments, which Indians stick to their foreheads, are made with sandalwood paste or can be in the form of red markings.
“Bindi” is not only available in India; It is also part of the traditions in Nepal, Bangladesh, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka. The engagement applied as a red dot in the middle of the forehead, close to the eyebrows… A piece of jewelry placed on bindis can also be preferred. Also, many associate the red bindi with the tradition of sacrificing blood to the Gods.
The groom makes a “tilaka” (long vertical mark) on the bride’s forehead as a wedding sign. Today’s practices are an extension of this tradition… An Indian bride passes the threshold of the groom’s house in colorful clothes and jewelry, in a red bindi. Although it continues to be used to a large extent, it is also a part of fashion today. Women also prefer bindies in matching colors with their sarees as a fashion accessory. When an Indian woman loses her husband, she gives up bindi and other married women’s jewelry.
Modern bindi also has no gender boundaries; For these reasons, men, as well as women, can use it. Today, Indian men use it for their meetings, weddings, festivals, traveling abroad, or returning to their countries. On the contrary, the tradition of using tilaka for men has been decreasing recently, and now women use this accessory more than men. Tilaka in Hinduism is a mark on other parts of the body such as the forehead, neck, hand, or chest. Tilaka is worn every day or only for religious occasions, depending on tradition.
Another tradition in marriage ceremonies in India is “Sindur”. In the wedding celebration, the fire is turned around seven times. Later, the groom applies red dye to the bride’s hair separation to show that she is a married woman. This bright red paint (Sindur) is a sign that the Indian woman is now married. Then the “Mangalsutra” ceremony begins. The groom wears a beaded necklace around the bride’s neck. After the “Pheras” ceremony around the fire, the bride and groom sit under a veil. The couples look at each other’s faces through a silver mirror.
“Posh Puja” takes place the morning after the ceremony. In this ceremony attended by relatives, flowers are poured from the heads of the couple with wishes for happiness. Finally, Indian couples proceed to the “Dayabata” ceremony. Sindur is also used in the “Gopastami” festival organized for cows.
Jewelry of India – Hair Ornaments
Long and luxurious hair is still considered a tradition in many countries. Oddly shaped crowns and headbands, beautiful crowns, chains, and tiaras are the favorite oriental jewels. Indian hair jewelry is perhaps the most exotic type of accessory. They can be large and sparkly or conversely sophisticated, ornate shapes, like thin flower stalks. Jewelry made of gold and precious stones worn around the head along the bride’s hairline.
Indian necklaces consist of a chain with a hook on one end and a pendant on the other. It is worn just like a “Sindur”. This is a thread made of precious metal, with or without stones, covering the parting of the hair and hung on the forehead with a beautiful necklace. It can also have side details in the form of chains attached to the hair or more voluminous precious metal plates. Latika chains are seen decorated with precious stones. This speaks of a woman’s high status, her position in society.
Latika is an ornament that touches the forehead, and special attention should be paid to this point since spiritual energy can penetrate the body through the amulet on the forehead. It is believed that a stone touching the forehead gives the user wisdom, knowledge. Each woman decides for herself what stones her jewelry will be decorated with. In India, it is believed that every stone should be a talisman or symbolize something. The meaning of the symbol is determined by the woman herself.
A woman who wears jewelry remembers that there is a connection between the material of manufacture, the color of the stones, and where the jewelry will touch the body. All these effects can have a positive or negative impact. For example, Jumar, an Indian head ornament, is characteristic of Central and Northern India. It is a pendant made of pearl strings or chains gathered in a fan. Unlike the jewelry that descends from the middle, the jumar hangs from the side and goes down to the temple area or above the ear.
Jewelry of India – Necklaces & Bracelets
Necklaces are very popular Indian jewelry. They are usually large in volume and weight. The massive and ornate façade is accompanied by a chain tied at the back of the neck. Such a necklace is practically dimensionless, it can either be worn tightly around the neck or lowered on the chest. In everyday life, necklaces are not as big as festive ones. Most likely, the precursor to the beads was an ordinary flower garland. But many flowers have a clear erotic aroma, for example, jasmine rose.
Champakali necklaces are stylized as the flowers of the Champak tree, whose flowers are lined up on a string symbolizing purity and elegance. Among the royal family, the Champakali was a symbol of status and origin, such a rich decoration made it possible to display the largest and most expensive jewelry from its treasure.
Bracelets symbolize the powerful energy of the sun. Terracotta, stone, seashell, copper, bronze, gold, silver, etc. They are made from any material that can be processed. Bracelets emphasize the elegance of hand movements and the elegance of thin women’s ankles, which men find very erotic and attractive. And the melodic, unobtrusive ringing of the bracelets clears the space, soothes the mind, and attracts attention, making the woman the center and object of meditation.
It is no coincidence that beautiful heavenly dancers seduce the greatest yogis and hermits, interrupting their meditations only with the ringing of their bracelets. Most often, precious and semi-precious stones with the use of silver constitute interesting ornaments. However, everyday girls and women usually wear bracelets – bangles of different thicknesses made of plastic and metal. The most common are multicolored glass Chura bracelets. In our time, there are also plastic ones. As a rule, they are worn by married women, not the richest. This decoration is for “common people”.
There are two traditions associated with Chura – when a man proposes to a girl, he gives her a Chura, a girl with such bracelets is a bride. And if a woman is widowed, relatives break the Chura in her arms. From that moment on, she is not allowed to wear jewelry. There are different beliefs in different parts of the country. Some Indian peoples believe that a woman’s gold bracelet can only be worn with glass bangles that contribute to the well-being of her husband and sons.
The bracelet has become an essential gem from just a jewel. A social symbol from ancient times. Now it is also a symbol of marriage. The hands of a married woman (not just a married woman) devoid of bracelets defy the whole society by saying that there is no one to take care of her. The woman after the wedding and the bride before it should not be left naked, they should wear a red glass bracelet or a pair of gold bracelets.
Some women are so superstitious that they do not leave their hands wide open even when changing the bracelet. They tie the end of a metal wire or saree around their wrists until they put on a new set of jewelry. In some traditions, widows are not allowed to wear glass bracelets. Baadjuband, the shoulder bracelets, used to be amulets of various bracelets for both men and women. In our time, it is often just a decoration.
Jewelry of India – Earrings
Karn Phul – earrings. Literally, a flower in the ear. Earrings are especially loved by Indian women. They are worn even by little girls, of course, lighter and cheaper options are made for them. The biggest flower and fruit-shaped earrings have been used from ancient times to the present day. They reflect tenderness, youth, spiritual perfection, shrewdness, innocence, which are the main features of a woman’s character.
Classic oriental style earrings are layered candelabra earrings that are popular. Modern fashionistas… They look like necklaces with thin chains, coins, pearls, precious or semi-precious stones. Previously, these earrings were quite large and heavy. These earrings were supplied with a chain attached to the hair or around the ears. Modern jewelry models are lighter, filigree, and delicate. Such long and large, uniquely shaped earrings will never go out of style.
In India, the earlobe has been seen as a sign of spiritual development and high social status since ancient times. Among the distinguishing features of the Buddha is an extremely long earlobe as a sign of his size. By all accounts, the lobes of Homer and Aristotle had the same features.
There is a close connection between the ears and sexual reflexes. Ear piercing was common all over the world. The purpose of the operation was not only decorative decoration but also protection of the owner from bad influences. Earrings served as talismans. Ear piercing is now believed to be beneficial for improving vision and sharpening attention. The acupoint is in the center of the lobe. According to legend, earrings are a consolation in pain and suffering. The more decorative and expensive the earrings are, the more consolation one gets.
Many people love Indian Jhumka earrings. They are called Indian bells! Even in ancient times, Hindus used to say that the bell is the voice of God. When the bell is struck, the main mantra OM is read. The religion of clothing and jewelry in India is closely related, as a rule, it is a symbolism of worshiping the Gods. Jhumka is a symbolic divine bell that is the voice of God. The Indians firmly believe that Jhumka earrings protect against evil. They bring good luck and prosperity. Perhaps the most common earrings in India.
One of the most popular pieces of jewelry nowadays is headlines, an original Indian women’s accessory. They are special clips that do not require ear piercing. Like other earrings, ear cuffs come in different sizes and their feature and advantage is that they are attached to the entire auricle without pulling the earlobe. They are barely noticeable when worn.
Jewelry of India – Nose Jewelry, Rings and Wedding Decorations
Nose jewelry is for women only in India. Nat is a nose ring studded with stones with a chain attached to the bride’s hair above the ear. Nat is considered to be the most seductive piece of jewelry. In India, they even wear jewelry large enough to have to be removed while eating. It is not necessary to pierce the nose. There are many clip-on jewelry types.
Most of the time, the Phul consists of just one pearl or pebble stone. Or a small rosette – just a stylized flower. This is actually the hardest piece of jewelry to drop, but it often gets lost. Beads in cloves in Delhi are called longa. “Phul” generally looks modest. By decoration, one can determine where the woman came from: Usually, southerners pierce their noses on the right and northern Indians on the left.
There are many casts in India who view nose jewelry as vulgar and never wear them. Nowadays nose ornaments are considered such a thing for ordinary people, they are not worn even on big holidays. Classical dancers definitely adorn their noses. We used to think that the nose was responsible for only the sense of smell. But the ancients knew that the nose was closely related to emotional sensitivity. Occultists have gone further and believe that the nose is the place of the sixth sense.
Let’s get to the rings. Arsi is a large ring with a mirror-shaped insert or a light-reflecting stone. Put only the thumb (rule of the palm), by which you can determine the character of a person according to palmistry. It is believed that the thumb is associated with logic, and the ring finger is associated with emotions (the tradition of wearing here the wedding ring is on the ring finger). The thumb is the king of the palm. Chinese palmistry is considered to be so important to the thumb that it can often be used to determine a person’s character, health, and future.
In Western antiquity, the thumb was considered a symbol of Venus and had a phallic meaning. According to Indian legends, what a person sees immediately after sleep affects the whole day in front of him, so the first thing a girl should look at is her own reflection. On the other fingers are attached gold rings or jewelry separate from a central locket and 8 chains, three of which are attached to the bracelet and five to the rings. Rings are made of silver and often decorated with bells. It was believed that this piece of jewelry could make a woman more attractive and beautiful.
A special place is occupied by the jewelry that the girl wore at the wedding – they indicate her already married position. In the past, these were jewelry made of gold or silver, but today pearls and diamonds are in fashion. The bride’s jewelry can do nothing but make us admire – incredibly beautiful and incredibly difficult for our understanding. Each element has a specific purpose and each is extremely important. A wedding in India is a lifetime celebration for beloved families. Receiving money is not accepted.
Usually, not only personal jewelry but jewelry of the whole family are used. Therefore, the weight of a wedding dress can reach several kilograms, but the girl looks like a real princess. Indian wedding jewelry comes in a special set of 16 different items and symbolic attributes. They are all designed for different parts of the body, have their own meaning, and wearing principle. This set includes not only jewelry but also a saree as well as a certain principle of makeup application.
Best Indian Jewelry That You Can Buy Online
- Carillon Indian Ruby Natural Gemstone Pear Shape Pendant 10K, 14K, 18K White Gold Engagement Jewelry
