The Deep Cultural Significance of Hindu Ornaments and Jewellery

The Deep Cultural Significance of Hindu Ornaments and Jewellery

WEARING JEWELLERY IS part and parcel of being an Indian woman, traditionally. Apart from marking auspicious occasions, accenting feminine beauty, or signifying wealth, power and status, it also plays a principal role in showcasing divine devotion among Indian women. Furthermore, it is a form of savings for women, who can sell it in times of need.

Indeed, rarely is a traditional Indian ornament simply decorative. Specific designs and elements of Indian jewellery are symbolically significant, and convey different meanings and values.

In Indian culture, gold symbolises prosperity as well as long-term commitment, making it the preferred choice of jewellery for weddings. According to Nijeesh P, the country head of Malabar Gold and Diamonds, “Almost all the major Indian festivals are celebrated with great fervour in Malaysia, so there has always been high demand for Indian jewellery. Through our vast collections of gold and precious gems, we have been incredibly successful in spreading Indian art, culture, heritage and traditions to our Malaysian customer base.”

Gold is also associated with the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and the auspicious days dedicated to the goddess.

Read the full story

Sign up now for FREE to access all articles.

Register
Already have an account? Sign in
Great! Next, complete checkout for full access to Penang Monthly.
Welcome back! You've successfully signed in.
You've successfully subscribed to Penang Monthly.
Success! Your account is fully activated, you now have access to all content.
Success! Your billing info has been updated.
Your billing was not updated.