The Cultural Connections of Bandhani Sarees

Sarees have been a part of the Indian culture and a staple in the women's closet since time immemorial. With time innumerable saree trend has seen the ebb and flow. However, there are only a few kinds of saree that have remained close to women's hearts since its emergence. Among those saree falls, the Bandhani saree has remained close to the hearts of women since its emergence.

Bandhani saree emerged in Gujrat, and soon the technique was adopted by Rajasthani people to make bandhani sarees. However, there is a significant difference between the two. While the Gujrati sarees are known as Bandhani sarees. Rajasthani sarees made from tie and dye techniques are better known as leheriyas. 

The roots of bandhani go back about five thousand years in history — a time when human beings were learning new skills to make their lives easier. Bandhani sarees are beautiful that are made using the tie and dye technique. To create a bandhani saree, first, a plain cloth is taken, and then it is tied in spots using a special technique. The artisans keep special importance that all the spots on the saree are tied in an equal way. So, that one pattern does not differ from another pattern or is not bigger than the other. 

The Making of Bandhani Sarees

After the tying is done, the sare is dipped into a tub of color for dying. The artisans keep the saree immersed for a while so that all parts are colored. After a certain duration, the saree is taken ut of tum and dried in the sun. Once the saree is completely dry, the artisans open the ties to reveal a beautiful dye that reaches the fabric.

If you think that all bandhani saree are dual-chromed, then you are in for a surprise. When women were kind of bored with white bandhani prints, the market saw a demand for colorful prints. Hence, the artisans got into the practice of coloring the fabric first, then trying the knots before they immerse the saree in the dye again.

With these techniques, the artisans achieved a saree that has a colored pattern instead of plain white. They then started to experiment with the dying pattern. Today, a bandhani saree can be as many as three times dyed and tied before being folded and sent into the market again. Bandhani is a handloom saree. It takes special skill and time to make one of these. It takes the artisans weeks to make a bandhani saree. Hence it is priced a bit higher. 

Several Designs of Bandhani Sarees

When bandhani sarees originated, it was a plain ensemble with a beautiful pattern. However, women in India, especially in Gujrat, wanted to give a more traditional look and feel. Hence today, you will get bandhani saree with mirror works on them. It essentially reflects the Gujrati and Rajasthani culture. Also, in many states, women love weavings of zari on the bandhani saree. So, the zari border and pallu are not an uncommon variant.

 Colors of Bandhani Sarees

India is the land of colors. We believe in unity in diversity. Hence there is no lack of colors in the gamut of the bandhani sarees. However, if we have to count the most favorite colors that women love wearing daily? Best reflects the Indian culture, then it will have to be fuchsia, red, yellow, and green — however, other colors like blue, purple and maroon are there too. However, Indian women consider the black color inauspicious. Even though a black bandhani saree looks terrific, but women do not prefer to wear it to auspicious occasions like marriages. 

Effective Tips to Shop for Bridal Jewellery in India

The importance of bridal jewellery in Indian weddings barely needs any introduction! Shopping for bridal ornaments is not equivalent of jewellery shopping that you can do on a whim. The attire of an Indian bride cannot be complete without the woman wearing matching ornaments on the special day of her life. Such jewellery is meant for important and exquisite occasions and not for everyday usage. So, ensure you shop for wedding jewellery after doing intensive research and know what you need.

Evolution of Bridal Jewellery in India

Until a long time, the wedding jewellery shopping in India was focused on gold, and even now, gold remains the first preference for most households for wedding shopping. However, over the years, women are leaning towards unconventional jewellery choices for weddings. You can also opt for pearl and platinum jewellery sets for the wedding while wearing a significant amount of gold ornaments for the occasion. Quite often, the wedding jewellery trends get affected by Bollywood blockbusters, and brides opt for ornaments styled on those worn by characters in major flicks, especially period dramas. Indian jewellery for bridal needs has therefore evolved a lot- giving the women myriads of choices.

Tips for Buying Various Types of Wedding Jewellery for The Indian Bride

Indian brides wear a variety of ornaments on the wedding day, and the type of ornament is often chosen as per religion, rituals and personal preferences. The budget also plays a role here, for sure. However, listed below are a few types of ornaments that are worn by the majority of brides in the country.

● Maang Tikka- Worn by the brides on the center of their heads, a Maang Tikka is considered auspicious. It is traditional Indian jewellery for brides, but nowadays you can find many variations. You can opt for lightweight tikka with precious stones. However, brides with a bigger forehead can opt for heavier sets. It is usually made of gold.

● Ring- You will not probably find any Indian bride who does not wear the wedding ring! The wedding ring is a very important ornament for the bride and has an emotional value attached to it. Nowadays, you can opt for beautiful gold and platinum rings for the occasion. Diamond rings, however, can be pretty costly, and they come in varying cuts like Asscher-cut, emerald- and cushion-cut, and classic round-cut.

● Necklaces- It is important that you wear the right necklace on your special day that gels with the gorgeous attire and hairstyle. Wedding necklaces come in many styles, and you have to buy one that fits your styling and attire. Some women prefer wearing one polki necklace on the wedding day, which is heavy. You may opt for chokers and a layered raani haar instead. Necklaces adorned with precious stones like pearl also go well with some wedding attire. You may also think of combining a thin gold necklace with floral jewellery.

● Earrings- You get a huge variety to explore when it comes to selecting wedding earrings! Again the majority of earring sets are made of gold and platinum. However, you can choose earrings with varying length and weight. The intricacy of the design is another factor you have to keep in mind. Pearl studded gold earrings are what many Indian brides opt for.

● Bridal Chura or Bangles- The hands of Indian brides are adorned by bangles, also called bridal churas. This is usually made of gold, and the design can be drastically different based on region and caste of the bride. You can buy lightweight bangles that sport minute designs. However, think of your wrist size before buying this ornament.

Buying from The Right Store

You may buy wedding jewellery from regular jewellery shops or opt for the brands selling such ornaments online. While buying wedding ornaments from online jewellery shops you have to look for a few things. Ensure the company offers a hassle-free replacement for items with defect or in case of mismatch. If you are buying gold or platinum based items, look for certificate of authenticity or warranty offered by the seller. In some such shops, you can also make jewellery customization requests and this will help you buy ornaments that have a touch of uniqueness. You will do well to check out reviews of such online jewellery sellers.

Where it All Leads To?

There are many more types of Indian wedding ornaments than chokers, earrings and the ones mentioned. There is, for example, the kamar band, anklet and toe rings, nose rings etc. You have to set a budget and think of styling needs before delving into wedding jewellery shopping. The body type of bride, shape of face also needs to be taken into consideration while looking for the bridal ornaments.  It is necessary to think of the wedding attire and buy jewellery that will gel with it well.