Traditional and unique jewellery of Upper Himachal
I am always fascinated towards local and traditional things which we normally can't find everywhere...you can say I have that antiquarian soul..always finding and reading about antique and local things and in the world of podcasts and vedioes I still love to write about such items...I know people prefer to watch rather than read still I love to write about it..
See where I'm going, my mind naaa!! Seriously a wanderer🙃..ok so to write about these pieces I searched, enquired and discussed from locals and also researched alot through books and net...I found that few of the mentioned pieces have similarities with other states also so also tried to include that..but whatever it is they are so unique that you can't miss them...I myself got many pieces in my wedding from my sasural and few I bought myself because I always wanted to have them..I will let you know about each and every jewellery pieces one by one:
DHAGALU (HIMACHALI KADA)
Himachali Kada known as Dhagla Dhaglu (local name) is one of the major jewelery of himachali people (specially from kinnaur, Shimla and lahaul). It is worn by both men and women. It is available in 3 faces which include sher (lion) face, hasti (elephant) face and naag (snake) face. These kadas are made by local village artisans.
Lion head represents strength and power, elephant head represents prosperity and wisdom. In Hindu religion and astrology, Moon is considered the planet responsible for the mind. It keeps the mind playful and silver is considered the metal of the moon. Therefore, according to astrology, it is believed that wearing a silver bracelet on the wrist cures many diseases, make your immune system strong because silver absorbs the body heat and cools down the body, balances the body hormones and face of the animal on edges protect you from negativity.
TRIMANI
It contains three hollow gold beads of big size in the center and adorned with black grain work. A copper sheet is fixed inside for strengthening of beads. These beads are threaded in the center and the sides are added with seven or more string of small beads and provided with joint screw at the end. This is wore in Rampur and Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. In Uttrakhand and Nepal trimani is wore with red beads. It is also called as Pahari Mangalsutra but now it's use is getting lessened.
Married women of the Kannaura tribe adorn trimani also called the Mangalsutra, as a sign of their marital status.
CHAMPKALI
Also called as Aamli (Kotgarh), Jaumala (Jubbal) and Champkali (Kullu). Traditional Champakali is very rare nowadays. Females of all ages either married or unmarried can wear this elegant traditional Champakali. It is beautifully decorated with pearls of different colours. The golden Champakali beads can be used with pearls as well as with red or black beads. As it is made by 24 karat gold the beads are very soft. These beads are filled by lead to give them strength. As a standard there are always 10 beads in champkali but people can increase or decrease there quantity as per their requirement. Aamli usually don't have locket in the center.
KANBALE:
Kanbale are another type of traditional earrings from Upper Simla, Himachal Pradesh. They are heavy made of gold. They are extra soft as made of 22 carat gold.
BALI/KANTALE
Bali are made with high-grade silver and red glass beads. It is most classical basic form of all ornaments wore in whole North India. This type of crescent-shaped loop earrings was in use in Asia Minor and the eastern Mediterranean area since about 2.500 BC. During many invasions from the West, Persian and Turkish jewelry habits and designs were assimilated by North India and made the lunate earring prevalent here, worn by Muslims and Hindu.
BRAGAR/KUNDAL
It is a large gold ear ring with two round pearls and a conical turquoise suspended in the center. The conical turquoise is called Neelak or meena. Generally these are of red and green color. From the central turquoise occasionally three or five small drops are hung. Just close to pearls about half an inch portion of the ring on both sides is covered with a coiled thin wire. Half the portion of the ear ring is a thick wire without any decoration. At one end a hook is fitted in an oval link provided at the other end of the ornament. Bragar are prepared of gold and silver and in size one-inch diameter to two inch and weigh between 15-40 gm. These are only wore in upper Himachal and even in some regions grooms also wear them on their wedding day.
According to size Bali are smallest and bragar are largest
BALI < KANBALE < BRAGAR
KANTAIE/MURKHI
Silver earrings from Himachal Pradesh (India), called “Kantaie” . These are prepared in several geometrical designs and are about 1.5 to 3" long. The long kanta is provided with a thin long chain with a tiny oval link at one end. The ornament is prepared in gold and silver.
GOKHRU
The pattern of these gold earrings is very interesting and fascinating which is inspired by the prickly, ball like blossoms often seen on the Babul tree (Acacia Arabica) & some of its seed vessels known as the 'gokru'. This style of earrings are the only ones which are worn in two States and that too separated by hundreds of kilometers, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Like all good things take a lot of time, one pair takes 10 whole days to create! Each raised & pointed 'thorn', characteristic of the gokhru earrings, has to be carefully soldered to the earring's surface. Another strange aspect of these earrings is that in Rajasthan they are worn by men and in Himachal Pradesh by the ladies. The earrings are studded with glass and rivet joining the loop with the earrings is always of some other metal. The hook has been put to make them wearable. It is small but very heavy.
CHAK
Chak is an ornament used on the hair plait on the back of the head. All married women wear it on their head symbolizing their Suhagan (married) status. Chak is prepared in both gold and silver. It is usually convex shape This ornament is normally isn’t visible as it is covered by a head cloth. It is given to bride by the groom's family.
KADOLU/ KAROLU
It is nose ring suspended from the nose and loops like a decorated disc of small grains of gold. At the upper portion hinge and hook is provided, wherein a curved wire is fixed by which it is hung to the septum. Sizes, shapes and weights of this ornament are varying. It is also known as bulāk
These are the main traditional unique jewellery pieces which are mainly worn in upper himachal area...There are also other jewellery pieces which are common everywhere overall Himachal Pradesh and other states so I haven't discussed about them...
I also recently bought bragar and gokhru for myself and I'm dying to flaunt them ...
Most of the older designs are no longer seen in today’s world but can be seen in museums of Himachal Pradesh. I hope you loved this piece of my work..and if you have any information which I haven't mentioned feel free to comment below ...I will love to rectify it💜💜
Soon going to bring you some new story so keep enjoying and keep waiting..
Till then
Bye bye
Your friendly vet
@dreamingvet💜💜
P.S no copyright intended. All the reference pictures have been taken from Pinterest and Google. Credits to the due owners.
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