SYMBOLS OF UNION

Tracing the diverse, deeply meaningful ornaments that signify one's marital status across cultures of India.

- By SHRADDHA CHOWDHURY

In India, jewellery transcends the realm of mere adornments. It's a language of love, lineage and lifelong bonds, where every region has its own emblem of union. Beyond the many avatars of the mangalsutra — be it the vati in Maharashtra, bottu in the Telugu community, or the tali in Tamil Nadu — varied pieces of jewellery quietly announce one's marital status across cultures. We explore the many powerful symbols that women wear long after the wedding.

TWINKLE TOES

Toe rings don't just make your feet look pretty — they also represent a woman getting a proverbial foot through the marital door. Women in Tamil Nadu and Kerala wear metti, or silver toe rings, as a symbol of their commitment. Telugu traditions involve the groom placing silver mettelu on the bride's feet as part of the sthalipakam ritual, signifying that he bends to his partner to claim her as his. In both Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, women wear the bichiya, mostly on the second toe of both feet.

RITES FOR THE WRIST

Adorning the wrists of wedded women are a variety of bangles and bracelets, each kind bearing its own significance. The gamkharu traditional bracelets in Assam stand for heritage, power, and elegance.