The year was 1290 . A crowd had gathered around a clearing, where broken down pillars marked the presence of an ancient temple, now long gone. A young boy, just 14 years old, leaned against one of those pillars, deep in thought. Then, he began speaking, and the crowd fell silent, listening to his every word. He spoke without any notes, translating the Bhagavat Gita, from Sanskrit, which only the pundits knew, to the language everyone in the village knew and spoke – a variety of Prakrit which developed into the Marathi language. Even as he spoke, one of the men in the audience realized how momentous this event was, and how important this composition would be. He began writing down the words the young boy spoke, and this composition was named by its author and composer, the Bhavartha Deepika – the enlightening meaning (of the Bhagavat Gita). Now, the ancient, holy text, was no longer restricted to the pundits, but accessible to all, understood easily by them, composed as it was, in their...
In a country as vast and diverse as India, ornaments vary
from region to region just as much as language and customs do. However, one
ornament that is used widely all over India is the bangle – whether made of
gold or glass, bangles are an inevitable part of a woman’s jewellery,
especially during her wedding.
Bangles are considered auspicious, and at one time, it was
considered inauspicious for a woman not
to wear bangles. I remember my grandfather ruing the fact that I studied at a
convent school and couldn’t wear jewellery to school, and that my hands were
always bare! I was secretly pleased, because I hated ornaments of any kind! I
still do, but over the years, I have developed an affinity for bangles – but
only the ones made of glass... and I never take them off! At one time, glass bangles could be found
easily... and in various designs, but today, my options are limited. In Mumbai,
all I get are decorative bangles, which look great for weddings or special
occasions, but are no use for daily wear. Which is why, whenever I am
travelling in smaller towns, I always keep my eyes peeled for bangle shops.
Like this one at Ambejogai near Nanded.
Ambejogai houses an important temple of the goddess, which
is probably the reason there were so many bangle shops there. I was spoilt for
choice, and I eventually landed up at this one, which was the biggest in the
area, and came back my hands full.... literally!
And then, there are these ‘mobile’ bangle shops... or bangle
sellers, who carry delicate glass bangles in wicker baskets on their head, and
go from house to house, not just selling the bangles, but also helping the
customers wear them! In fact, it is quite a tradition to have the bangle seller
fill your hand with bangles...as is done at weddings, and many other occasions.
They have a great idea of what will suit you, help you pick the right size, and
help you wear bangles which seem too small, fit just right.... and in an aside,
it is actually better to wear glass bangles a size smaller, for then they don’t
break as fast! It has been a long time since I saw any such door-to-door bangle
sellers, but on this trip, I saw quite a few.. especially in buses, where it
seemed a miracle that the bangles emerged intact even after the most lurching
rides in buses packed to capacity! The only one I managed to click, however,
was this one, whom I saw at Shegaon.
“Zara thaamb re, mala
pallu theek karu de na” (wait for a moment. Let me arrange my pallu (end of
the saree) properly ) was what the lady wearing the bangles told me, when I
asked if I could click a photo. And then, she made me click more, till she was
satisfied with how the photo turned out!
I have the same affinity for earrings and nothing else! So I am also quite happy that the 'unfortunate' business is not so strong at least in the cities. :D
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures and what a bangle shop!
I so completely agree, Mridula! at least we dont HAVE to wear all that is deemed auspicious!
DeleteBeautiful pictures. Yes now a days the bangle sellers are not to be seen in larger cities.
ReplyDeleteThanks PNS! I guess they might be there in Mumbai too.. my maid sometimes comes with some beautiful bangles a man brings to her door..
DeleteThe colours in Bangles and Bangle Shops are so uniquely Indian. I wonder if any other culture fetes its glass bangles so highly. I love the tinkle of these bangles, and I love the profusion of colours they come in. What a visual treat. Only draw back is in my hurry burry world it can scarcely be worn without breaking it, or scratching myself. I admire the women who wear them and do their daily chores. Thanks Anu, your unique ability to highlight common things that pass us by is really commendable
ReplyDeleteThanks Sowmya.. I used to think that it was tough to wear them all the time, but its actually not all that difficult.. and since i hate changing ornaments to match what i wear, it works perfectly.. nothing like the colourful glass bangles!
DeleteSuch wonderful pics.
ReplyDeleteBracelets have taken over!
Thanks Indrani! Yes, bracelets have indeed taken over... but the charm of wearing glass bangles which shine in the sun and make that tinkling noise is something else!
DeleteWow look at those lovely bangles there. I loved all the captures and the last one nails it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Ashwini!
DeleteNice and colourful. Lovely clicks.
ReplyDeletehttp://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in
Changli photo aahes :) The colorful bangles on display in our bazaars have always attracted me towards them :) Lovely captures :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Arti! that is exactly what she said :D i guess its the colour which makes our markets so interesting, dont u think?
DeleteBeautiful bangles. Though like you I hate wearing jewellery, I don't wear glass bangles since I only like admiring them on others' hands :) I remember wearing a colourless or skin coloured single glass bangle when I was younger -- to appease my mother. And now I wear a single thin gold bangle. No additions for any occasion, including weddings :D
ReplyDeleteZephyr, that reminded me of a friend of mine in college. That was a time i hated wearing any ornaments at all, and my mom kept trying to get me to wear some, and then there was this girl in college who used to come all decked up.. simple clothes, but hands filled with glass bangles, not a hair out of place, flowers in her hair, a gold chain with pendant, anklets.. the works... and i used to wonder how she managed to carry it all off. and here i was, preferring to stay in a simple salwar kameez or a jeans and khadi kurta.. and no jewelry at all... i used to wear bangles only for occasions.. loved to wear bangles, rings and ankelts then, for just a while, though.. and when i got married, i had a huge collection of glass bangles to match every saree i had... and all i wore was a pair of ultra thin gold bangles which were completely invisible :D and then, came the valakappu, and i realised i never wanted to take the glass bangles off!!! with a kid it was tough, so i gave them up, but when samhith grew older, i decided i wanted them back, so out came all the old bangles, and since then, i have worn them constantly.. and this reply has gotten as long as a post!
DeleteNice bangles, I bought bangles for my granddaughters when I was in India. I have been in India for 10 times yet. Greetings Dietmut
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and sweet post, Anu ! I love glass bangles, but just not on me :-D Thanks to my mother, I have a fairly large collection which I deign to wear whenever she nags me to much.
ReplyDeleteHint: I love silver bangles ;-)
wow nice i like ur blog.....
ReplyDeletekurta
sherwani
What a delightful post! I adore glass bangles as well and am always willing to buy more of them (I have tonnes already). I'm even content to merely look at them, stacked up in shops and on carts, so your pictures are awesome. As a fellow Mumbaikar, I get sad as the sight of these stacked, colourful circles of joy, so ubiquitous in small Indian towns, is so rare in the city.
ReplyDeleteThe glass bangles on looks trendy and stylish and the sudden pleasant voice of such bangles makes the women feel more elegant and graceful. Glass bangles are varied in different designs and styles that belong to the ages of all types of women from young to aged groups. Bangles are enormously in use by the women till the past centuries. In the recent time such bangles were uniquely known as Kangan by the women society.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful post!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many bangle shops a lot of collection you can choose easily your matching dresses
ReplyDeletehttp://fashionartificialjewellery.blogspot.in/