Tinkling-Twinkling Toerings Of India

Gems of attraction.

- Kusum Mehta

The origin of jewellery in India provides a fascinating subject for study and is burpied in antiquity. No matter how far we go, archeological finds reveal a wealth of ornaments discovered individually or a figurines and statues. The similarity of their shapes with the ones made even today provides glimpses of an unbroken tradition which has linked India civilisation through all stages of its development.

That richly-designed jewellery rusted during the Vedic age, there can be no doubt during the Vedic and puraniac periods anguliyaka was a ring for the toe while khai, Hansake, kshudraghantika and nupura were included in anklet jewellery.

The jewellery of the epic period is heavy rich varied and glamourous. Sita, it is said had “jeweled buttes flies and other ornaments in the raven black hair…bracelets and anplets on her arms and wrists... golden anplets on her ankles….and golden belles on her those that link led as she walked with marked feet to accept Rama as her consort,” must have been a glorious picture, dazzling the assembly by her natural beauty enhanced by the adournments.

Ornaments for the toe are distributed all over India. It is a simple ring some times with a piece in the shape of a flower, fish, betal leaf, aroplanes etc, fisud to it. The ornament sometimes derives the name according to that particular design.

Toe rings are generally made of silver, other metals rarely employed are brass bell – Metal or same alloy of them, Gold is not generally used in the making of ornaments for the ankle toe. In Rajasthan, during the regine of princely states gold could be worn on feet only when it was awarded as a matter of grace by the ruler to any person.