Van Gelder Indian Jewellery - Vangelderjewellery.com

These bangles are an example of one
of many typical wedding ornaments.
No single ornament, however, serves
this purpose throughout the Indian
subcontinent, as, for instance,
the wedding ring does in the West.
If an imaginary line is drawn between
northern and south India, it can be
said that to the north of this division
marriage symbol ornaments are worn
on the head, nose, wrist and toes; and
to the south they are worn suspended
from the neck. All the matrimonial
ornaments and jewellery have the basic
function of protecting against evil
spirits
The forms of jewellery and ornaments
also indicate the wearer’s geographical
place of origin, religion and also caste.
In some areas, the primary marriage
symbol ornament must be of gold, a
metal considered to be ritually pure and
sacred to the gods.