Bridal Jewellery Box

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...

You thought jewellery is just an adornment? Sorry to burst your bubble. You don't seem to know your ornaments well. They have got more purposes to serve than just to make your look attractive. Let’s take a stock of those very purposes with which most of the ornaments came into being and find out what they stand for.     An eerie tale of earrings Today earrings have more varieties than you can think of. From jhumkas and chandliers to hoops and studs, it’s available in wide-ranging designs to go with different occasions. But legend has it, this pair of jewels was designed for a different purpose. It was believed that evil spirits could enter the body through its openings and ornaments were said to prevent that. So, besides their acupuncture benefits, earrings are believed to ward off evil spirits. A heart-touching ring story  The ring finger has a vein passing through it which runs directly to the heart and so, the wedding rings are worn on ...

Karnataka is the tourism capital of India. From pristine beaches to rolling hills, from art forms to architectural structures and from silk sarees to sandalwood, people from India and overseas come here to soak into its distinct beauty. But what bowls them over is the gold jewellery of Karnataka . Blessed with Kolar mines, the state produces about 80 per cent of India’s gold and this has given way to a stupendous heritage. If you ever get a chance to attend a Kannadiga wedding, don’t miss it. It would be the true spectacle of Karnataka’s traditional designs.  The Goddess Lakshmi is the most favoured image engraved on the ornaments and so is the practice of setting in ruby and emerald stones.   A striking piece of jewellery worn by the brides here is a layered chain called  Entele Sara  which is strung with gold beads.  Sitting on the bride’s forehead, Netri Chutti is essentially a mangtikka that is further embellished with coloured stone...

Bichhuaa may be called by different names across India but most cultures here, from Punjab to Kerala and Maharashtra to West Bengal and far northeast, uphold it as a married women's special accounterment. They wear a pair of it, each on the second toe of their feet. Why two? One as a sister and the other one, as a wife. As it is believed that post husband's death, it is the brother who protects women. Hence, it is worn in pairs. Upon husband's death, one of the toe-rings is removed. Bichhua also has a mythological significance. As per the great epic Ramayana, when Ravana had abducted Mata Sita and was taking her Lanka, on the way, she threw her toe-ring for Lord Rama to know the direction in which she has been taken. Here, it would not be wrong to acknowledge the role of this dainty jewel in saving Mata Sita. That's not all. There are scientific and ayurvedic reasons too. While a toe-ring is known to have a sexual/ erotic effect on the wearer, it treats the ...