Traditional Indian Bridal Jewelry

An Indian wedding is not complete without bridal jewelry.

A wedding is a milestone in a woman's life. This is also true in Indian culture, where adorning the bride in jewelry is an integral part of the wedding day. Traditional Indian bridal jewelry consists of a complete set of jewelry to beautify each part of the bride’s body.

Only Gold

Fake or imitation jewelry may suffice for other occasions, but when it comes to weddings and jewelry for the Indian bride, only gold jewelry will do. Almost every middle- and high-class Indian family spends a considerable amount of money on bridal jewelry. Those who cannot afford expensive jewelry make do with a few basic pieces for the bride--a gold ring, necklace and bracelets. Different stones like diamond, pearl, jade, amethyst, emerald and the like may embellish intricately designed gold jewelry for brides from wealthier families.

Head to Toe

It is common for Indian brides to be covered in jewelry from head to toe. Brides from rich families may wear a tiara made of gold. However, the most popular piece of jewelry that adorns the head of an Indian bride is a golden pendant hanging from a golden string. The string is placed on the part of the hair of the bride. Some brides also adorn their back of their hair with golden clips.

Face and Neck

A golden nose stud is a must-have for Indian brides. A golden string may attach the nose stud to the back of the ears. Gold earrings also are chosen for the bride. The bride and her family members often spend hours selecting the right gold necklace and earrings, and jewelers get ready for the wedding season with a mind-boggling array of earrings and necklaces.

Arms

Armlets, bracelets and finger rings beautify the arms and hands of an Indian bride. Armlets may be worn on one or both arms, but gold bracelets have to be worn on both hands along with bangles. A bride may wear one or 10 finger rings, depending on her financial status. Gold strings may connect the bracelets and the finger rings.

Waist and Legs

A waist band is an ornament worn by brides belonging to rich families. The weight of a waist band may vary from a few grams to more than 2 pounds. Toe rings and anklets complete the traditional Indian bridal jewelry set. The anklets make a soft jingling noise when the bride walks.

The All-Important Necklace

The most important piece of bridal jewelry is the necklace that the bridegroom ties around the bride’s neck during the marriage ritual. This is known as the mangalsutra; it is made of gold and contains black beads to ward off evil eye. A wedding is assumed to be solemnized when the groom ties the necklace around the neck of the bride.

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