Weddingbee Blog

As a child, I spent many blissful hours playing with my mom’s jewelry. As I examined her ornate necklaces, earrings, bangles and rings, my mom reminded me that many of her favorite pieces would be mine when I got married. I would also receive my own special pieces to wear. And now that time is finally upon us!

Jewelry is an incredibly important part of the Indian bridal ensemble. The beauty and radiance of an Indian bride is in direct proportion to the amount of jewelry she is wearing. Here is a non-exhaustive but hopefully interesting guide to traditional Indian bridal jewelry. Names and meanings of pieces differ from region to region, but I’m relying on the most common usages.

Tika
The tika is a bejeweled piece affixed to the bride’s hair so that it falls onto her forehead. Sometimes it’s a solitary piece like these:

Or it can be more elaborate like these:

Jhoomar
Pakistani brides wear a jhoomar in addition to a tika. It’s a beautifully designed ornament affixed to the side of the bride’s hair.

Nath/Nose Ring
The nose ring hooks onto the left nostril and is supported by a gold chain. The nose ring was traditionally a symbol of the bride’s purity.

Jhumka/Earrings
Jhumka are very ornate and heavy; they are typically supported by a gold chain that loops over the ears.

Necklace
My favorite part of the Indian jewelry ensemble! Styles vary widely from very traditional sets to very modern, trendy pieces.

Baju bandh/Armlet
An ornate circlet of gold worn on the upper arm. It’s meant to protect the bride from any inauspiciousness on her wedding day. The armlet is a gift by the groom’s sister to the bride as a commitment on behalf of her brother to protect her all her life.

Kamarband/Waistband
A gold belt that sits around the bride’s hips. It not only accentuates the bride’s waist, but also serves a practical purpose by keeping the sari in place.

Hathphool
A bracelet with an ornament for the palm and ring(s) connected with chains.

Mangalsutra
The mangalsutra is to Indian weddings what wedding rings are to American weddings. It’s a necklace with a gold pendant strung on a yellow thread or gold chain of black beads. An Indian wife wears the necklace as a symbol of her marriage and only removes it upon her husband’s death.

Mangalya dharanam is the most important part of a Hindu marriage ceremony. The mangalsutra is tied around the bride’s neck with three knots. In some families, the groom ties the first and his sisters tie the rest.

Chooda and Kalira
During an important ceremony held on the morning of the wedding, the bride is given 21 red and cream ivory bangles (chooda). Kalira are heavy, ornate gold ornaments that are tied to the bangles by the bride’s maternal aunt and uncle. The purpose of kalira is to make housework impossible, so the bride can relax in the time following the wedding (that is a tradition I can get behind!). The bangles and kalira are worn throughout the wedding ceremony.

Payal/Anklet
Chains of gold hooked around the bride’s ankle– they often have spherical bells attached that chime beautifully with each step the bride takes.

Bichua/Toe Ring
Worn on the second toe, the bichua is an important symbol of a married woman. They can range from simply designed to very ornate. Some rings have a small mirror on them so the bride can see her reflection from under her veil.

What jewelry are you wearing on your wedding day?

all images from Andrena Photo, Art Karat jewelers, SouthIndianGirl’s knot bio.