what are the differences between the jewellery of ladakh and jewellery of West Bengal?
Answers
Answer:
Jewellery of ladakh:
Perak (Ladakhi headdress)
Perak (Ladakhi headdress)Perak, traditional headdress of Ladakh
Although the clothing of Ladakh have shared designs and make in our different communities, jewellery makes a different story. In Ladakh, as most of the tribal communities, women hold much of portable wealth of their families. And, their precious possession is the Perak, a huge and heavy blue headdress that runs from the wearer’s forehead until her lower-back. The unique ornament is inlaid meticulously with blue turquoise stones on a padded base, while its edges are embellished with silver charms and coral trinkets. Needless to say, Perak is considered a status symbol of the possessing family, and it’s passed from mother to her daughter as an inheritance. It’s said when tracing the owners, a few of still existing Perak could reveal a complete lineage of the families, stretching deep into the historical times.
Jugin (Ladakhi Muslim headdress)
Jugin (Ladakhi Muslim headdress)Jugin, traditional Muslim headdress of Ladakh
Jugin (Ladakhi Muslim headdress)Jugin, traditional Muslim headdress of LadakhPhoto: Nevada Wier
In the Muslims communities, the Perak is replaced by Jugin. The women adorn themselves with Jugin, especially on their wedding day. The ornament consists of a block of gold with tassel of pearls hanging from her forehead, followed by a beautifully designed see-though drape with embroidery which covers her face and back. On other occasions, the Muslim women wear a plain cloth to cover their head following the principles and beliefs of Islam.
Gau or Kau (Ladakhi amulet)
Gau or Kau (Ladakhi amulet)Gau or Kau, Ladakhi amulet, traditional jewellery of Ladakh
Well, the next precious piece of jewellery we bring to you is the Gau or Kau. It’s a hexagonal or octagonal golden amulet of the size of a fist, enamelled with precious stones and pearls along a fine and intricate design. Pema-lab-tse is a play on its design, which emulates butterfly. Women across Ladakh cherish Pema-lab-tse for its feminine and delicate attributes.
To the north-west, the western region particularly, we see a different shade of culture resulting from a mix of different communities. The rich culture of Balti, Purig or Pod-riks is the result of local innovations and exchanges with the Indian plains, Central Asia, Tibet and West Asia. Purig or Pod-riks culture came about when a Balti Princess Gyal Khatoon married Jamyang Namgyal, the King of Ladakh, in the 17th Century. Her nuptial introduced various musical instruments, dance forms, sports, cuisine and costumes that became an integral part of contemporary Ladakhi and Purig culture.
Jewellery of West Bengal :
1. Nath
The Nose ring is an integral part of the Bengali culture and Bengali wedding jewellery. The ‘Nath’ is worn by the bride after her nose is pierced. It is said that bigger the ‘Nath’, higher is the status of the bride. Maybe it’s one reason why the ladies of well-known Bengali households wear big sized nose ring on the festival occasions.
2.Paati Haar
In Bengali parlance, ‘paati haar’ is the necklace worn in Durga Puja and weddings. The affluent Bengali families wear this ethnic wear as bridal jewellery. Though the designs of ‘paati haar’ are intricate and complicated, they have been made convenient to wear by making it flatter and broader in shape. This reduces discomfort in sporting this Bengali bridal jewellery.
3. Jhumko
The Traditional Bengali jewellery names for Chandelier earrings are ‘Jhumka’ or ‘Jhumko’. It’s all about floral designs. New designs have been inculcated in the ‘Jhumko’ so that they can be worn at ease by Bengali women in the modern day context.
4.Tairaa
This is yet another form of magnificence in Bengali bridal jewellery which is used to hold the veils of a Bong bride. Some are of the belief that the ‘tiara’ or ‘maang tikka’ was inspired by the British when they were ruling the country. The tairaa adds an element of elegance to the new bride and helps tremendously in tying up the veil.
And many many more!