Bridal Jewellery Box

Of late, Mrs. Bachchan had stepped out for GSB Ganpati Darshan with her mother Vrinda Rai and daughter Aradhya. We hear, the star-stuck crowd almost mobbed the trio. But that is another story for another day. Right now, we are only interested in unearthing the secrets of the former beauty queen’s heart-warming spiritual look. For the visit, Aishwarya donned a white Salwar-Kameez. Over that, she took a bright red dupatta to infuse a festive feel. That's not all. To slay us, the actress further rounded off her look with a bindi, kohled-eyes and a sindoor dot. Too tough to take my eyes off her!    Even amidst so many distractions, it was her drop earrings that caught my fancy. Carved into leaf-shape, the danglers infused the much-needed sparkle and shine into her look. At first glance, it is a simple jewel but the overall impact of its addition into her ensemble, is noteworthy. It would not be wrong to say that without the said earrings , Aishwarya would not have...

Make way for the just married TV couple in town - Ekta Kaul and Sumeet Vyas. As their Instagrams are up-to-date with the scoops from their wedding, good wishes are not ceasing to pour in. However, it is their couple picture that is fetching a lot of compliments for them. There is no denying that the duo looked resplendant on their big day. But you have to give to Ekta for amping up the glam quotient. She stole the show, hands down in her maroon lehenga. The unique choice of the lehenga's colour is worth taking note of, by the way. It has all the trapping to set the tone for the upcoming wedding season too. On top of that, her jewellery choices are also commendable. Mathapatta with pearl infused a bridal feel into her look while the Polki set adorning her neckline worked like a charm. Must say, this TV bride has championed the bridal game.  Author: Deepa Mishra Disclaimer: All images used in the blog have been sourced from Google purely for the purpose of info...

Rajasthan is home to many  jewellery art  and Meenakari is one of the popular ones. Not just within brides-to-be of India but also world over, this art form has a huge fan following. And why not. Who does not like the sight of colourful intricate designs on a shimmering metal surface!  Meenakari  therefore did not remain confined to  traditional jewellery  but diversified into more modern products, often with a copper base, including bowls, ashtrays, key chains, vases, spoons, figures of deities and wall pieces. It is a great work for any kinds of vase of marble things. Essentially,  Meenakari  is the art of colouring and ornamenting the surface of metals by fusing brilliant hues over it in an intricate design. This technique is used to express various themes and occasions with vivid clarity. In the depressions of popular designs, animal figurines or  images of gods and goddess , the enamels are filled to give the appearance of a...

You may have surely heard of Thewa jewellery . It is essentially a hand crafted design technique that involves fusing of gold with molten glass. The coloured glass base, embossed with golden miniature artwork, is the special attraction of the Thewa work. Thewa pendants therefore are a famous jewel for their hues and exquisite patterns. Apart from jewellery, this art is also used to craft other decorative items such as glass photo frames, trays, glass ware, glass jewellery boxes , lamp shades, flower vases, crystal wine glasses, flasks, glass pots, antique crystal chandeliers, glass coasters, glass lamp shades and glass paintings. Thewa is a local Rajasthani word which literally means setting. Generally, Thewa jewellery follows two patterns — Hindu mythological stories and legends from the land of Rajput kings. However, natural scenery displaying animals, flora and fauna too is beautifully manifested through this art. In other words, it does not only ornament your bea...

Sikkim’s popularity as a tourist destination is constantly on the rise. Whoever has been here, either does not want to go back or loves to come back again and again. It is sheer word of mouth publicity that this picturesque land has become a holiday destination of choice for many. Not just amongst Indians, even many foreign tourists love to explore the beauty of this landlocked state ofIndia .  But apart from sightseeing and adventure sports , I suggest you do explore the cultural heritage of Sikkim once you are here. Just so you know, Sikkim has three ethnic groups living here. Nepalese , Lepcha and Bhutia. Most Lepcha and Bhutia today practice Buddhism, incorporating the aspects of Bön religion and animism, in contrast to the Hindu Nepalese majority. Followers of Buddhism in Sikkim are largely either Kagyudpa or Nyingma , though a small section of Bhutias too claim to adhere to Bön in particular. Since the arrival of the Nepalese and Western missionaries , few...

First let’s make it clear. Not everyone living in South India is Mallu and particularly, not everyone living in Karnataka speaks Kannada. There is a culturally rich clan of Tulunadus living in Mangalore who are distinction in every way. Their rituals, their language and their lifestyle reflect the uniqueness of their culture. But still, its jewellery heritage is something that connects it to the whole of India.   Just like other cultures of India, Tulu women too are bejewelled from head to toe. From armlets, bracelets, bangles, necklaces and earrings to finger rings, toe rings, nose rings, anklets, pendants and waistbands, their trinket box is replete with jewels . Just that they call it by different names. For instance, for them diamond is Vajjira, while coral is Pakala. Similarly, pearl is Muttu, ghungroo is referred as Gejje and hand-made gold coin goes by the name Nanya. Knowing the names of the jewellery elements, you would be able to guess the type of ornamen...

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 lik...

The Pahadi women love to flaunt oversize jewellery . Just like any other regions of India, they too do not wear jewellery just as ornaments but also a determinant of their social and financial status . While women from poor family flaunt silver jewels, gold jewellery is a privilege of the rich. To prolong the longevity of the metals, the Kumayoni and Garwali craftsmen overlay the designs with brass.  But when talking about the  Pahadi jewellery , it has to begin with the nose ring ( Nathuli ) as that is the most striking piece of jewel which is not just big in size but also has a cultural relevance. It is inherited by the bride on the day of her wedding from her maternal uncle. The weight of the nose ring and the number of pearls it has is an indicator of the status of the bride’s family. Although there are different types of naths such as Phuli, Beera..., perhaps the most enchanting of all is the Tehri Nath of the Garhwal region. Popular for its intricate stone...

You cannot sum up India’s jewellery heritage without paying a special tribute to Andhra Pradesh.  Home to diamond mining, pearl harvesting and jewellery traditions, the state boasts of a glorious history with a virtual monopoly in the global jewellery industry till 1826 (until founding of the diamond mines in Rhodesia, Africa). What’s more! Eight of the 10 most valuable jewellery pieces on Earth today were found from the mines located here. With the ancient Golconda mine in its crown, the state is also the mother of the several legendary gems such as the Kohinoor and Hope Diamond. A grand salute! Another feather in its cap is Karimnagar’s silver filigree . But that does not mean, it lags behind in the gold jewellery game. Mainly comprising of Vaddaanam, Aravanke, Kashulahaaram , Buttalu and various other customary gold jewellery designs, it is a continuously evolving ancient tradition. However, brides from different communities have their own unique bridal jewellery ...