Indian weddings are incomplete without jewelry. The following blog post focuses on the importance of bangles in India culture.
Jewelry forms an integral part of every Indian wedding. In a myriad country like India, the use of bangles can be found almost every community. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Assam to Gujarat, Bangles are used in every Indian wedding tradition. Till date Indian women can be seen wearing bangles. However, with modernization the style has undergone changes. These days’ bracelets have become among the urban Indian women. Let us take a quick look at the origin of this unique ornament.
The custom of wearing bangles in India can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The first discovery of bangle was made in the ruins of Mohenjodaro dated around 2600 BC. One of the early examples of bangle occurs in the Mauryan Empire. Later gold bangles were known to have been excavated for the historical sites of Taxila.
Bangles find their references in classical Indian literature. Works like Vyasa’s Mahabharata, Banbhatta’s Kadambari are seen depicting women wearing kangans.
According to ancient Indian treatise, bangles were made from stones, terracotta, gold, silver, glass and lac. From simple plain circlets of metal to the ones decorated with exquisite motifs – bangles are available in innumerable styles.
Bangles continue to bear a huge significance among Indian women till date. Married women are spotted wearing a bangle in their hands as a symbol of betrothal. Different communities have their own way accommodating the same. Glass bangles are more prevalent among north Indians especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana whereas in Bengal married women usually wear two types of bangles – a white one made of conch shell and a red one made of coral.
Bangles are an inevitable aspect of Indian wedding traditions as well as daily life. Indian women take pride in flaunting bangles as bangles mean more than just enhancing her clothing ensemble.
Author:
Sampurna Majumder
