Bangles are traditional ornaments worn
mostly by South Asian women in India and Bangladesh, especially Hindus.
It is tradition that the bride will try to wear as many small glass
bangles as possible at her wedding and the honeymoon will end when the
last bangle breaks.
Toddler to older woman could wear bangles
based on the type of bangles. Bangles made of gold or silver are
preferred for toddlers. Some men wear a single bangle on the arm or
wrist called as kada or kara. In Sikhism, The father of a Sikh bride
will give the groom a gold ring, a kara (steel or iron bangle), and a
mohra.
Chooda is a kind of bangle that is worn
by Punjabi women on her wedding day. It is a set of white and red
bangles with stone work. According to tradition, a woman is not supposed
to buy the bangles she will wear.
Moradabad, India is the world’s largest
producer of bangles. A standard bangle is used as an adornment. A new
special type of bangle doubles as a clip for hanging items such as a
handbag.
History
Bangles—made from sea shell, copper,
bronze, gold, agate, chalcedony etc.—have been excavated from multiple
archaeological sites throughout India.
A figurine of a dancing girl—wearing
bangles on her left arm— has been excavated from Mohenjo-daro (2600 BC).
Other early examples of bangles in India include copper samples from
the excavations at Mahurjhari—soon followed by the decorated bangles
belonging to the Mauryan empire (322–185 BCE), and the gold bangle
samples from the historic site of Taxila (6th century BCE).
Decorated shell bangles have also been
excavated from multiple Mauryan sites. Other features included copper
rivets and gold-leaf inlay in some cases.
Types of bangles
There are two basic types of bangles: a
solid cylinder type; and a split, cylindrical spring opening/closing
type. Primary distinguishing factor for these is the material that is
used to make the bangles. This may vary anything from glass to jade to
metal to lac and even rubber or plastic.
One factor that adds to the price of the
bangles is the artifacts or the work done further on the metal. This
includes embroidery or small glass pieces or paintings or even small
hangings that are attached to the bangles.
The rareness of a color and its unique
value also increase the value. Bangles made from lac are one of the
oldest ones and among the brittle category too. Lac is clay like
material which is molded in hot kilns-like places to make these bangles.
Among the recent entrants are the rubber
bangles that are worn more like a wrist band by youngsters while the
plastic ones are there to add the trendy look.
Normally, a bangle worn by people around
the world is simply an inflexible piece of jewelry worn around the
wrist. However, in many cultures, especially in the South Asia and in
Arabian Peninsula, bangles have evolved into various types in which
different ones are used at different occasions.
