Long live the jewellery heritage of Haryana!

Don’t look at Haryana the way Bollywood wants you to view it. It’s much more than what their limited understanding of this state’s rich culture permits. The cows, the hookahs and the khaats definitely form the indispensable element of a traditional Haryanvi household. But that’s not about it. For the uninitiated, Haryana’s history is replete with myths, legends, valour and glory. The sacred Vedas were written here, it is the birthplace of the Universe, Lord Krishna narrated the sermons of Bhagwad Gita here and the great saint Ved Vyas wrote the Mahabharata in Sanskrit. A state with such a glorious past cannot be conversed in the 70mm of cinema. You need to have a special vision to behold its beauty.

Talk about jewellery, in this domain too Haryana does not cease to overwhelm you. While the rich and affluent bejewel themselves in gold fineries, silver still remains the ornamental choice for many. Check out what the state’s treasure trove holds for you.

Just like women of any region in India, even Haryanvis cannot resist the charm of the evergreen Jhumkas. Here they also call it Magar or Kundal. Bali, which is a form hoop, is also hot favourite amongst women here. Adorning the ear cartilage with Karanphool is also Haryanvi women’s thing. But with Boojli, they hit it big. Unique to this culture, this pair of earrings are generally seen on elderly women.     

You cannot sum up a conversation on Haryanvi women’s costume without the mention of its statement nose rings. The smaller ones are called Nathli while the bigger ones as Nath and for the septum, Bessar or Baalak does the trick. Nosepin varieties such as Purli, Laung and Koka too are popularly worn by women here.  

Head accessory is the highlight of a traditional Haryanvi bride. Comprising of Borla and Shingar Patti – also known as Kori, Jura, Viralta and Bandini, it is a lavish affair so to say. Generally worn with Sahr that is made of silver, Borla's spherical shape in golden sheen pops up beautifully. Tika, made of gold, too is a common sight here. Sheeshphool, made of round silver Tikras, too belongs to this place. But nothing can come close to the effect Chhaj creates. Made of silver, it sits pretty on the head with the fringe-like patterns covering half the face. Simply, breath-taking. That’s not all. Women here love to bejewel their hairdos too. For that, they adorn their braid with Keshpin that is either made of gold or silver.   

Coming to the neck wears. Chandan Haar, also known as Rani Haar, with Tikde and Laria in its design infuses a regal charm into the woman’s getup. Other than that, there is Paatri that comes with a taviz and elevates the wearer’s look several notches. Coin necklace? Yes, Haryana too has its own version of coin necklace. Here it is called as Jhalra and is essentially a series of silver coins strung together with a thread. Note that, the distance between the two coins is ideally of two inches. Aged women prefer to wear the Hansil ornaments. Unlike normal jewellery, they are not foldable. Instead they are stiff and shaped to fit around the neck in a particular form. Marital symbol? Yes, here too married women flaunt a Mangalsutra as a marital symbol. Even Panchmora is an indication of women's living husband. 

There is a special segment of neck wears in this culture where the mode of stringing of beads is crucial to the design. For instance, Mohan Mala/ Matar Mala is an ethnic marvel that is made by stringing together a series of golden beads. Then, we have Kanthi which is also made by stringing the gold beads together but is rounded off with a Peepal leaf-shaped pendant. The Jat women’s pride Kathla/ Galsari or Mala of Banias too comes with gold beads strung into a silken thread.

Rings are commonly worn by women here. But Aarsi is typical to this culture. Worn on the thumb, this ring comes with a mirror as the centrepiece. What’s interesting is that when not in use, the mirror can be covered with a lid attached to it. Hathphool or Panchongale, which comprises of multiple rings tied aesthetically to a bracelet with a gorgeous chain, too adorns the hands of the bride.

Even when it comes to bangles, there is no dearth of designs. From thick Kangan to small Kangni and from intricate Pacheli to metallic Kada, it’s full of ethnic designs. Ponche that are broader than usual bangles too is commonly seen in a Haryanvi woman's trinket box. 

Bajuband is a part of Haryanvi heritage too. Just that here it goes by a different name. Women here call it Bajuphool or Bajubank. But when designed in the shape of a snake, it is called Annant and Tadiye, if carved in silver and comes with ghungroos.

Anklets? Kadi, made of silver, is a Haryanvi anklet design that is worn above the ankles. The lighter version of it is called Chalakde. Nevri too is worn above the ankle but it comes with ghungroos attached. Panjeb, Pajeb and Payal too is worn by women here. Jat and Ahir women also sport Kari, Pati and Chhailkara on their legs. To adorn the toes, married women here wear Chutki made of silver, while Tagdi draws attention to their waistline with its silver sheen. 

Not just women, men too love to bejewel themselves. Murki is an earring type that is a small hoop for men. They also love to sport a Gofla in their neck which is basically a thick gold chain.

The jewels are so unique and yet so relatable. You can tell a Haryanvi bride from several others merely by seeing the jewels on her and still feels, they are one of you. That’s the charm of this culture. That’s the magic of this place. No wonder, it is also known as ‘The Home of Gods’.    

Author: Deepa Mishra

Disclaimer: All images used in the blog have been sourced from Google purely for the purpose of informative reference. The models, celebrities or products showcased in these pictures are not to promote any brand in any manner.