InFocus | Fine Jewellery Watches
Symbols of value
An Indian marriage always includes jewellery, the wearing of which is believed to endow the bride with power, authority and great beauty.
- By Abigail Mathias, Staff writer
- Published: 00:00 September 23, 2006
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
- Traditionally symbolising wealth and prosperity within Indian culture, gold holds special significance in celebrations such as births and weddings.
Indian marriages are made with gold.
An Indian marriage always includes jewellery, the wearing of which is believed to endow the bride with power, authority and great beauty. Each part of India offers its own traditional ornaments that have special significance.
Gold has traditionally symbolised wealth and prosperity within Indian culture, holding special significance in celebrations such as weddings and births.
Often presented as a gift or a form of investment, this precious metal features heavily in most Indian weddings.
A mangalsutra or thali (a small gold pendant worn on a thread or necklace) is a symbol of matrimony. Tying of a thali around the neck of the bride by the groom is the most important ceremony in Indian marriages. The kind of ornament worn depends on the community to which the bride belongs. The traditional mangalsutra is a necklace usually made in gold and comes in various designs.
While some depict religious symbols, today's trendier designs are made with diamonds and other precious stones. The mangalsutra is generally worn on a chain with two strings of black beads interspersed with gold. These beads are believed to protect the marriage against evil.
The Punjabi bride usually wears a kundan, which is a traditional stone setting with a thin gold foil forming a wedge around the stones. The pendant set in 22k gold and held together with black beaded chains is her mangalsutra. The bride from the southeast state of Hyderabad also wears a 22k gold mangalsutra with seven pendants.
Symbolic pieces
There are certain symbolic pieces of jewellery that all women wear from the date of their marriage. For instance, married women from Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh wear silver toe rings.
Married women from the Sindhi community often wear traditional gold earrings studded with nine diamonds. The nose ring is a must-have for Muslim brides and is usually made of diamonds or gold to complete the wedding jewellery set.
"In the east, especially in South Asia and the Middle East, jewellery is a hugely important part of weddings. Not only is jewellery given as gifts to the bride, a prize piece will be presented to her to wear for the occasion. Tastes in this part of the world differ greatly than to those in the West," says Mukhi.
"In India, bridal jewellery is often colourful, the gold intricately crafted, and usually beset with various colourful stones, often including diamond. In the Middle East, bridal jewellery is often relatively ornate and intricate, although the stones are showcased much more importantly than with traditional Indian bridal jewellery.
"Although it must be duly noted that as the world becomes a smaller place, tastes are becoming progressively similar and diamond is generally the favoured stone," says Mukhi.
