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Traditionally, ornaments had economic significance for women. The ornaments given to her at her wedding constituted a daughter's inheritance from her father. Customarily land and other property was divided among the sons, though this no longer holds true. In addition, a bride's ornaments were financial security throughout her life.
Nose pin: More common than a nose ring, both are symbols of purity and marriage, though today many unmarried girls wear this adornment.
Necklace: These are popular across the country among girls and women of all ages. Necklaces are made of a variety of materials, ranging from glass beads to gold and diamonds. One special necklace, however, is the mangalasutra, worn only by married women. It is the Indian equivalent of the western wedding ring. Traditionally a woman wore it during her wedding ceremony and took it off only if her husband died. A lot of emotion and superstition focus on the mangalasutra.
Bangles: Worn on the wrist, bangles are believed to be protective bands and women always wore them as symbolic guards over their husbands. As with other ornaments, bangles today are worn by women of all ages all over India and are made of silver, gold, wood, glass, and plastic, among other materials.
Most married women wear glass bangles. However, in the eastern state of Bengal, they wear one shell bangle, called shakha, and one coral bangle, called paula, on each hand as a symbol of marriage. In the west, a bride from Punjab wears a set of ivory bangles on each hand for 21 days, six months, or a year after marriage, depending on family tradition. And a Rajasthani woman wears ivory bangles from her wrist to her upper arm for the rest of her life or till her husband is alive, although now this is rare.
Ear rings: Rings, studs and other ornaments worn in the ears are popular all over the country. In fact, a girl's ears are usually pierced before her first birthday. Some ear ornaments are specifically worn by married women. For instance in the northern state of Kashmir, suhagans suspend gold earrings on long red threads from a hole pierced in the upper part of the ear. These earrings are called ateheru.
Other important ornaments are finger rings, toe rings and anklets. Rings for the fingers are again, of various materials and designs and worn by unmarried and married women. Since the ring has become a common adornment, it is no longer considered a symbol of marriage
However, toe rings and anklets are still worn mostly by married women. Ornaments for the feet are usually made of silver because gold, being a 'pure' metal, was not supposed to be worn on the feet. This privilege was given only to women of royal families.
In addition to these ornaments is the 'mangatika' or 'tikli'. This ornament, worn at the top of the forehead in the parting of the hair, is usually a small pendant on the end of a chain that is clasped to the hair. Although traditionally this ornament was also worn as a symbol of marriage, today it is not so commonly worn even by married women.
Nowadays, it is usually reserved for very special occasions. Traditionally, ornaments were considered a symbol of marriage and a widow did not adorn herself. Although this custom is still widely followed today, its observance is not strictly required.
