In yesterday years, women used to wear a massive amount of gold on their wedding but with time most women today wear a moderate amount of bling. Indian brides, especially Bengali Bong Brides will in 99.99 cases be seen wearing traditional or modern pieces of jewelry. Most women inherit their mother’s or grandmother’s jewelry piece with some new ones made for the occasion. In this blog we look into the traditional jewellery of Bengal brides, their names and their different designs. Remember, all traditional and modern pieces with pure gold are still made by hand by traditional craftsmen in West Bengal and thus they are of course a pride to own.
If you have seen brides of today, they mostly wear classy or modern pieces, but wearing gold mukut is often seen as a sign of wealth and prosperity of the family. Many modern brides make Gold plated silver crown to wear on their wedding. Some wear their inherited crowns during the ceremony.
Here are some Bengali jewellery –
•Bengali Bride Headgear / Tikli – Wedding Jewellery- Bridal Jewellery
The Bengali bride usually wears a small Tikli or sometimes attached with a Tiara type jewellery piece that is used to give a better definition to the hair parting. Also the Tikli was used to keep the veil in place. While today bobby pins do their work in keeping the veil in place, the ‘Tikli’ works as a great way to reduce the forehead size, and provide a good definition to the hair parting.
•Bengali Bridal Jewellery hair Bun Pin/ Brooch
In my house, where my grandmother and mother had long shiny hair, a bun was a common hairdo for the wedding. For this, my grandmother inherited her own Bun Pin or Brooch for the hair, which is worn over the bun to make it look even more luxurious. While this is a stone studded one with ‘Meenakari’ work, the one I will wear is in plain gold. I will be inheriting the hair pin from my Grandmother and mother.
•Nose Ring or Nath – Bengali Bridal Jewellery Designs – Wedding jewellery
Nose rings or ‘nath’ are very popular within Bengalis and most Bengali women, whether they have nose piercings or not will flaunt them on their wedding day. There is something about the pretty Nose ring, that looks very bridal.
•Kaan er Dul or Earrings for Bengali Brides – Bengali Jewellery
If you are a woman in Bengal, in most cases you have got ear piercings done way back the you were little. And this is the time you can wear earrings. Most Bengali women will wear large intricate earrings ranging from Jhumka designs to Kaan Bala designs.
•Kaan er Dul with Golden Kaan Shape – Ear Shaped Earring
Many women also have golden ear shaped earrings attached to their jhumkas or Kaan Bala and these look marvelous when you have a larger fuller face. The Kaan shape helps to keep the earrings from pulling down on your earlobes if they are heavy.
•Kanpasha or Large Golden Studs – Bengali Bridal Jewellery
The Kanpasha looks great on fuller faces and they are usually made in the shape of a saucer, with intricate work.
•The Chick or Choker Necklace Designs for the Bengali Bride – bridal Jewellery
The style of ‘Chick’ or Choker has been popular in Bengal since time immemorial. Very intricate designs and craftsmanship is seen in these Chokers which are worn lower on the neck and just above the collarbone. The width varies but is usually 1 to 1.5 inch width.
•Panch Noli Har or Sat Noli Har – Necklace for the Bengali Bride
The Panch Noli har is a necklace which has five gold chains attached to central design. The Sat Noli Har has seven gold chains attached to the central design or decorative piece.
