Traditional Indian jewelry and tribal craft

In India, jewelry accompanies life's most important moments, above all weddings. Gold is considered auspicious, and each piece has a place and meaning in traditional dress.

Who and where #

India has very diverse jewelry traditions across regions, religions and communities. Alongside the gold jewelry of the cities, Adivasi (tribal) communities keep their own crafts in metal, brass and bronze.

Materials and techniques #

• Gold, silver and precious stones.
• Kundan: setting of stones on a sheet of pure gold; polki: uncut diamonds.
• Meenakari: colored enamel on metal.
• Dhokra: a tribal lost-wax technique with wax threads, for brass and bronze pieces.

Traditional pieces and their meaning #

• Mangalsutra: a necklace of black beads and gold that, in many Hindu communities, married women wear as a symbol of marriage.
• Bangles (chudi): bracelets of glass, gold or other materials; brides wear many.
• Jhumka: bell-shaped earrings.
• Nath and maang tikka: the nose ring and the forehead ornament of brides.
• Solah shringar: the traditional “sixteen adornments” of the bride, which include many pieces of jewelry.

The tradition today #

Bridal jewelry remains central. Dhokra crafts, made by tribal communities in several regions, are sold as objects and jewelry; it is worth buying them fairly from the artisans.

See also #

• Gold
• Enamel
• Lost-wax casting
• Bronze
• Symbols in traditional jewelry and their meaning