The brides of India

One of the most special days in the life of a woman is quite possibly her wedding day. Not only is she ready to begin a new journey of her life, but this day also marks her evolution from a young lass to a grown woman. A bride looks splendid on her wedding day, not only for her soaring emotions but also every glint of sparkle that she adorns. No wedding in India is the same as the nuances in cultures change from region to region and state to state, and so does the jewellery. We dig deeper to discern what sets one bride apart from another.

Opulence at its best
Northern weddings such as those in Punjab and neighbouring states are well known for their lavish weddings. The wedding ceremony itself is a festivity that lasts for more than one day. It is not surprising then that the Punjabi bride gets decked up in luxurious jewellery. The chuda, a set of red and white ivory bangles, is an essential part of a Punjabi bride’s look, so is the maang tikka.

Gilded goddesses

Manga Malai (Joyalukkas)

The southern regions of India are rooted in rich heritage, bringing with it jewellery that is not only 2based on gods and goddesses but is also inspired by nature in all its glory. The denizens of southern India are famous for their affinity for gold, which is also evident in the jewellery of south-Indian brides. Flowers form a huge part of a bride’s makeup with floral designs being used extensively in jewellery as well. The shringar patti, a gold tiara to be worn on the forehead, is a must-have for any bride so is the manga malai (mango mala), which is a necklace crafted in gold and ruby, in the shape of mangoes. Mangalorean brides wear assorted jewellery pieces that feature vibrant corals and emeralds.

Of royalty and regality
The western state of Rajasthan is popular for its lineage of royalty—and with royalty, jewellery can’t be far behind. The Rajasthani bride is dressed like a princess with her jewellery including several pieces such as the borla tikka, nose ring and baju bandh among others. Kundan is yet another style of jewellery that is native to the state, and hence an integral part of any bridal makeup.

Coastal beauty

Maharashtrian nose pin (P N Gadgil Jewellers)

A Maharashtrian bride may not be as lavishly bejewelled as her northern sisters but there are a few essentials that she just cannot do without. The famous nose pin decked up with pearls and vibrant precious stones in a paisley shape adds an oomph to the look of a Maharashtrian bride.

And let’s not forget the mundavlya (fine strings of pearl, diamonds and coloured stones) that are worn on the forehead to symbolize flower garlands.

The earthy east

Bengali brides are probably best known for their shankha-pola bangles, which include white bangles made of shankha (conch shells) and red bangles made of red corals. Apart from these, the wedding jewellery also includes tikoly, kaan, sita haar, gola chik, nolak and the paanch lahiri (a five strand necklace). Even though most Bengali brides prefer not to wear the kamar chavi, it is considered a significant part of the bridal jewellery.

A final word…

Mangalsutras (Ghanasingh Be True)

While some jewellers in India do cater to the specific needs of a bride, most fall short of offering the type of jewellery that brides look out for. We hope that jewellers in India are more mindful of the fact that certain colours and materials are sacred to each region. Here’s hoping that every bride is able to acquire exquisite bridal jewellery that mirrors the identity of the soil that she belongs to.