The Jingling Tales From India

'Incredible India' is an appropriate moniker for a country unlike any other in terms of culture, custom, art forms, dress, and even ornamentation. Bangles, a thin, typically inflexible adornment comparable to a solid wristband in Indian culture, have several symbolic meanings. Be it the chooras from Punjab or shakha pola from Bengal, every culture in India endorses bangles as an integral part of daily life.

A tale that brings us closer to our culture; Image Source: Wedamor

When ancient bangles were discovered from the ruins of Harappa; Image Source: Harappa

Shakha Pola of Bengal; Image Source: YouTube- DusBus

Choodas of Punjab; Image Source: Pinterest

Lac bangles of Rajasthan; Image Source: The Hindu

Be it that famous scene of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham where Rahul makes Anjali wear bangles that he bought from a stall or Mere Haathon Mein Nau Nau Chudiyan Hain, a song that has been the official anthem in every wedding; bangles have been capturing our attention since the very inception of human civilization. Yes, you heard it right.

Bangles are not a recent emergence; it has been in use in the country since the rise of the first human civilization of the world, the Indus Valley Civilization. Colorful bangles adorn not only the hands of newly wedded brides but also the aesthetic frames created by the photographers of India. But have you ever wondered how this object of fascination and fashion came into being?

Let's travel through the colorful lanes of India to find the secrets that revolve around these beautiful bangles. While there are numerous stories and significances related to bangles, today we'll attempt to look at a few of them that have indeed caught our interest.

Let us first understand the literal meaning of bangles. Derived from the Hindi word 'bungri,' meaning glass, these traditional accessories are worn mainly by women in south Asian countries like Nepal, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Usually made of gold, silver, wood, glass, and plastic, bangles come in various styles, sizes, and shapes.

Bangles were first discovered in India, and women were found wearing ornate bangles to make themselves look beautiful, even during the existence of the Mauryan Empire. Gold bangles, too, have been discovered in the historical sites of Taxila, thus proving that the tradition of wearing bangles goes beyond our imagination.

India is called the cradle of human civilization. When archaeologists found the existence of bangles in the ruins of Mohenjodaro, they could finally confirm the existence of fashion even in the earliest of times. A dancing figure of a girl made of bronze was the evidence that brought light to the history of bangles. The girl stands with one arm on her hips, and the other arm is filled with wrist accessories that look similar to modern-day bangles.

Women in rural and tribal areas prefer wearing bajuband that they usually wear in their upper arms. Initially, men used to wear bajuband, but slowly with time, women of Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Gujarat too, began wearing them. When we come to the colorful land of Rajasthan, lac bangles are considered a tradition here, and colors ranging from yellow, green, red, pink, and many others fill our eyes with excitement. The lac bangles are unique compared to other bangles that are mostly made up of synthetic materials. Made up of pure lac extracted from a special breed of plants, these bangles of Rajasthan are the favorites of all.

Aside from its sociocultural importance, Indian ladies like bangles. Women like enhancing their feminine elegance and beauty with bangles, which come in various styles. The fancy bangle business seeks innovation and produces bangles that glitter in multiple colors. While the current fashion trends are on the way, Indian bangles maintain their undiminished sway. The narrative does not finish here. It goes on like the plethora of bangles seen in fairgrounds, bangle marketplaces, and other abundant stores that entice the heart and spirit of every Indian woman.

Also monikered as kanganas, the thick and more ornate version of bangles is one of the most common accessories that women in mythological stories and epics don. Interestingly, not only women but men, too, have been seen wearing bangles since ancient times. During the pre-Vedic or post-Vedic period, bangles were mainly considered something that was purely ornamental.

But with the coming of the medieval era, bangles were more attached to ritualistic and spiritual beliefs. Considered a symbol of marriage, bangles now represent suhaag or a wife's love for her husband. Wearing bangles is considered auspicious and is believed to bring prosperity and happiness in married life.

While we learned that the bangles originated from the Indus Valley Civilization, yet another region in Siberia brought to life a bangle-like accessory that was 40,000 years old. Resembling a bangle-like structure, this stone-like bracelet was believed to be worn by the Denisovan species of humans.

Any material that suited itself to artistry and could be worked on by a smith was utilized to manufacture bangles. The tradition of wearing bangles was imprinted in the annals of Sindhu Saraswathi culture. Legends concerning bangles may not be as old as the Vedas, but there is a lot of antique jewelry that dates back that has some the bangle. As civilizations changed and transformed, bangles molded into their distinct types of roles in various regions of Indian customs.

The black and red bangle worn by Bengali women, popularly monkied as shakha pola, is considered highly auspicious. While today, it is regarded as a symbol of marriage in Bengal, back in the days of yore, the fishermen used to bring conch shells from the sea, and the women grounded them and made the shakha pola out of them. Sometimes, women also wear a bangle made of iron on their left wrist, called loha, to ward off evil.

Women in Maharashtra and Karnataka prefer wearing green glass bangles as it is considered to be a symbol of auspiciousness and fertility. Coming on to Punjab, chooras are pretty famous here. A set of red bangles is beautifully set, and women must wear chooras for one year after marriage. Chooras have now become a tradition all over India.