Its been a long time since I last wrote but with Diwali and its aftermath, this post was long in the making.
Turning the pages of History, I came across these Gems quite literally!
Ornaments and Jewellery have always been on the forefront ever since the times when humans found a marvel way of adorning themselves with shells. Over the time it became an art and a form of status to wear different pieces of jewellery.
During the Peshwa Era,a lot of stress was laid on various Ornaments and Men, Women,Boys, Girls and even infants wore these on a daily basis. The higher the status, the more use of precious metals and Gem Stones.In fact even the idols in the temples were adorned with the the jewellery worn at that period of time.
If there really was a Time Machine, I would gladly have travelled to the 1700's where Men, Women and children bedecked themselves with Jewellery from head to toe. To be able to witness people of that period wearing the ornaments like we change clothes is simply enthralling.
A line from a classic period,"Sahib Bibi Aur Gulam" film comes to mind. "बाकि औरतों की तरह, गहने तुदवाओ, गहने बनवाओ,और तुम्हे क्या करने की जरूरत है।" This wasn't truly the all that the women did of course., but that will be in my next post.
On a more serious note, a woman wore:
a बाल पास्य - a chain of pearls around her head,
a बिंदी - on her forehead
Gold Flowers in her hair
बुगडी- in her top ear
डूल, झुमका, कुड्या- in her ear
मोहन माल, बकुल माल, पोहे हार, चपला हार, मंगल सूत्र - in her neck
then there was कम्बर्पट्टा- on her waist, तोर्द्याः -अन्क्लेट्स।
On her arms were वाकी, गोठ, पाटली, जवा, बांगड्या।
The list is endless, and it would take so much more to write about each and every piece. The metal used was mostly gold with Gemstones like Rubies, Emeralds and Pearls used extensively.
The Men were not far behind though and had there own set of Ornaments:
शिरपेच - worn in the पगड़ी, बिग्बाली on the top ear, बाली for the ear, कडा, पवित्रक - finger ring,
कर्दोत्ता- for the waist, etc.
As the men most of the time on battle fields it was customary to take their jewellery with them. This was to ensure that in times of need the jewellery could be used to trade for essentials needed for the upkeep of troops. and also as the means to receive information about their rivals.
Today however the form of ornaments has changed considerably, although it still signifies wealth, it has also become a sign of showmanship than in the period when wearing jewellery was a normal part of daily life.
In my next post I will try to present a picture gallery of the various forms of Jewellery worn in the Maratha Era.
