Bangles – The Traditional Accessory That Is Now a Part of Fashion
Years ago, bangles were worn as a part of the culture and not for the aesthetic appeal. However, today an increasing number of women are reaching out to this accessory to make a unique fashion statement.
Call it by any name – chudiyaan, kangan, valayal or valla – bangles are an integral part of an Indian woman’s attire. While these bangles only serve to enhance the beauty of a woman, they are much more than just simple accessories that adorn the wrist. A rich history of tradition and culture are attached to bangles.
The use of bangles by earlier civilizations was first discovered when a figurine of a dancing girl was excavated from Mohenjedaro. The left arm of the dancing girl was adorned with bangles – proof that bangles were considered an integral part of a woman’s attire even back in the day. What followed was a flurry of discoveries, starting with the excavation of copper bangles at Mahurjari. Close on its heels was the discovery of bangles belonging to the Mauryan Empire as well as the excavation of gold bangles from the historic site of Taxila. Following the timeline of these civilizations revealed that bangles were a part of the culture of India as far back as 6th Century BC.
The wearing of bangles continues to be a vibrant tradition through-out India. A traditional wedding in the Eastern state of Bengal calls on the bride to wear three types of bangles: conch shell bangles, lacquer bangles as well as iron bangles. Each bangle holds its own significance, for instance the iron bangles or ‘loha’ signify a gift by the mother-in-law to the bride. Shell bangles as well as bangles made of red coral adorn the hands of married woman in Bengal and serve as a symbol of her marital status. Ivory bangles or choodas – as they are famously known – adorn the wrists of young brides in the northern states, for a period of 21 days to a year after marriage – depending on the customs of the family of the bride. Rajasthani women, on the other hand, are seen wearing bangles from their wrists to their upper arms from the day of their marriage to the day they are widowed. Married Maharashtrian women prefer glass bangles in green, which is considered an auspicious color, while elsewhere in the country women adorn their wrists with red bangles to symbolize their marital status and well being of their husbands.
Derived from the Hindi word ‘bungri’ meaning ‘glass’, bangles found through excavations all over the country suggest that terracotta, shell, copper, bronze, silver, and stone were among the preferred materials for bangles back in the day. These days too, the wide range of bangles made of precious and non-precious metals give women a huge variety to choose from although glass bangles are still preferred for more traditional events like weddings and pujas.
bangles are not, however, limited to only traditional attire. Recent trends have Indian women accessorizing bangles with modern, western outfits. Not only do these create a stylish and chic look, but they also successfully reflect the Indian woman of the 21st century, who is a perfect balance of traditional values and a contemporary outlook. From five year old girls to sixty-six year old grandmothers, bangles are a favorite accessory of women across age groups and regions.
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