Bangles form an essential part of a woman’s adornments. Women wear them not just for decoration but also for other reasons. This is particularly so among Hindu women. The tradition began in very ancient times. Bangles make women look...
Bangles form an essential part of a woman’s adornments. Women wear them not just for decoration but also for other reasons. This is particularly so among Hindu women. The tradition began in very ancient times. Bangles make women look more feminine and beautiful. The word comes from the Hindi word ‘bangri’ or ‘bangali’, which means ‘the ornament which adorns the arm’.
History of Bangle-wearing in India
The bronze figurine of a dancing girl was one of the oldest artifacts in India, excavated at the Mohanjodaro site. It indicates the antiquity as well as the universality of wrist ornaments in the sub-continent. The figurine is nude and stands with one arm at her hip, and the other arm sports a collection of bangles. The Yakshinis, too, are depicted wearing bangles. Banabhatt’s work, Kadambari, talks about Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge and Learning, who wears kangans. In ancient times, people used materials like stone, terracotta, shells, glass, copper, bronze, silver, lac, gold, etc., to make bangles. They ranged from plain metal circlets to ones that were etched with exquisite designs of bird and animal-heads or studded with gems.
There are many reasons why women wear bangles. In India, women wear bangles for their lovely designs and auspicious symbolism significance. Just as affianced or married Western women wear rings on their fingers, Indian women often wear bangles to indicate that they are engaged or married. Such women wear bangles made of gold, glass, or other materials, depending on the region they belong to. This custom denotes love, safety, and luck in the marriage.
Bangles for Married Women
Married women wear bangles, which are also an essential part of bridal jewelry. In some communities, married women have to wear their gold bangles along with glass bangles to ensure the well-being of their husbands and children. In other communities, the women feel that it is bad luck to leave their arms bare. When they have to change their bangles, they wear a simple string or wrap the end of the sari around the arm until they wear a new set. In many communities, especially in rural areas, widows cannot wear glass bangles.
Bangles are also important during baby showers, which is also called the bangle ceremony. In Tamil Nadu, the name of this ceremony is Seemantham. The ceremony takes place during the 7th month of pregnancy. Its function is to drive away evil spirits that may harm the mother-to-be or the baby in her womb. People believe that the evil spirits’ attention will be diverted by the colorful and vibrant bangles (glass, silver, conch, or shell bangles, as per the region and community) on her arms, and this will avert danger to her or the baby. A married woman will remove her bangles only when she is in labor or when she becomes a widow. When glass bangles break, it supposedly attracts bad luck.
One can find an amazing variety of beautiful bangles in places like Hyderabad and Firozabad. The Kasars, a community found here, specialize in the art of bangle-making.
Bridal Bangles in Various States
· In North India, Punjabi brides wear red and ivory bangles called chooda. They have to wear them for at least 40 days as per family customs.
· Gujarati and Rajasthani brides wear ivory bangles.
· In Maharashtra, women wear green glass bangles in odd numbers. The brides wear them along with thin and thick gold bangles, which are called patlya and kadas.
· Brides in Bengal wear a conch shell bangle along with a red coral bangle. They are shakha and pola.
· In South India, gold is very auspicious. Brides in this region wear gold bangles as well as green ones.
Significance of Bangles’Colors
· Red bangles symbolize energy.
· Green bangles signify good luck and prosperity.
· Yellow bangles represent happiness.
· White bangles indicate new beginnings.
· Orange bangles symbolize success.
· Silver bangles signify strength.
· Gold bangles signify good fortune.
Some Benefits of Wearing Bangles
Women are often weaker than men physically. Their bones are more fragile. The belief is that wearing bangles makes the bones stronger and helps boost women’s health. As women age, they may develop bone-related diseases like osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. Bangles are believed to prevent such conditions.
Wearing jewelry made of noble metals, like gold and silver, provides energy and positive vibes. When a gold or silver bangle is in touch with the skin due to friction, its qualities can enter your body, too.
Ayurveda has many beliefs regarding the wearing of ornaments. In Ayurveda, the ashes of nobler metals like gold and silver are used to perform energy therapy. This indicates that the metal, which is strong and empowered, transfers its energy to women who wear such bangles.
There is an ancient myth about wearing bangles that says that women should wear bangles for their husband’s safety and longevity. This is why married women tend to wear bangles.
The sound of tinkling bangles is said to ward off negative vibes and unwanted energy away from the house. The elders believe that the sound of the bangles in a house attracts the grace of the deities.
According to Acupuncture, one should wear ornaments to stimulate certain pressure points on our body. In Acupuncture therapy, the pressure points located all over our body are stimulated to treat a specific organ or disease. The bangles worn on the wrist stimulate the pressure points of a woman’s genital organs. This is supposedly why older women have fewer ovary-related complications.
Bangles cause continuous friction when they move against the wrist, which boosts blood circulation. Also, the electricity that passes through the outer skin is reverted to one’s own body because of the circular shape of the bangles.
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