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Jingling tinkling bangles
They adorn your wrist with grace and elegance. They are music to the ears. They come in all colours, sizes and shapes. bangles are very much in vogue! The word “bangle” is derived from the Hindi word bangri or bangali, which in Sanskrit means the ornament which adorns the arm. Bangles have become a fashion statement today. These decorative ornaments have, over the centuries, acquired a cultural, social and religious significance. Literature through the ages has glorified this ornament and made it the epitome of feminine grace.
The versatility of the bangle makes it a piece of traditional jewellery that has gracefully adapted itself to modern trends. Gone are the days when they were worn by few and matched with traditional wear. Today, jeans clad girls are wearing them with as much style as their mothers and grandmothers. Previously worn as part of ritual, tradition and occasion, today bangles are worn by women in all walks of life from young college going girls to older working women. Coloured glass bangles are deemed to be more propitious than the gold or silver ones.
This adornment or ornament was undoubtedly a purely decorative accessory in the pre-Vedic era and even in the post-Vedic times until the medieval period. Medieval India gave Hinduism a chauvinistic twist distorting Vedic concepts and introduced ritualistic beliefs. It was at this stage that the bangle was transformed from a mere decoration to a symbol of marriage. The bangle thus began to gain social significance and ritualistic relevance.
Like every year around Eid time, this year too lots of new styles have hit the market. Besides a rainbow of colours available in the regular wood, metal, glass, and Hyderabadi ranges, a couple of shops in Multan have come up with some real innovations. It seems sawaiyyan are not just for eating, but can also be worn! A variety of crushed authentic sawaiyyan-coated bangles are available in several colours, creating interesting new textures. Also relatively new are the matt bangles (look like velvet but are actually painted), and glass bangles covered with dabka work and even floral appliqué.
Girls who rarely wear jewellery in everyday life especially buy lots of colourful bangles to match with their clothes. To celebrate Eid in its traditional spirit is really worth relishing. The choice is wide, ranging from glass bangles to the trendy metal wear; however the selection lies with the taste as well as the combination of Eid clothes. Be it for their enthralling colours, their lovely designs and patterns, ornamental appeal, their musical tinkle or the traditional value, bangles have survived the test of time.
Eid is a festivity linked with happiness and joy after the holy month of Ramazan. Though the present era has brought quick changes in its trends, yet people love to celebrate Eid with various trendy and age-old traditions which add colour and beauty to the occasion. May it be the colourful and glittering bangles or the intricate henna patterns on the hands of damsels, the traditional aura remains in the air.
On the eve of Eid there is much excitement as women walk around freely… trying to find the perfect mix of bangles to match their Eid outfit (on the first day of Eid it is traditional to wear new clothes). After selecting bangles, with hands painted in twirls and whirls with mehndi or henna, every girl feels like a movie star.
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