Maharashtra and Traditions: The Jewellery

Jewellery has forever been an integral part of the Indian culture. Like most of the regions of the country, Maharashtra has its fair share of rich cultural heritage just as it had had its aristocracy. As can be expected, the traditional jewellery of Maharashtra turns out to be quite vast and deep-rooted like its heritage and aristocracy.

While anywhere in the country, the use of traditional ornaments and jewellery can be seen in abundance; like the different regions, Maharashtra too stands out with its distinct and personal style, and importantly in essence. Like any Indian woman, the traditional Maharashtrian woman has a few pieces of jewellery which make her visually unique and reflect the bygone era of aristocracy that evoked this evolution.

It is a typical traditional antique bun pin that is used to hold the hair in a bun. It involves a styling of hair where it is tied in a round circular shape and held by the pin.

A jewellery for the helix portion of the ear, this is an ornament that is vastly used by Maharashtrian women, and at times even by North Indian women. The Maharashtrian variant would traditionally be designed with pearls, though now the use of other precious stones can also be seen.

It is another ornament for the ear this piece of jewellery traditionally came studded with pearls, made up of gold.

This is a traditional piece of jewellery that had religious sentiment as well as significance embedded in it. Made up of golden beads, the Kolhapuri Saaj has twenty-one leaf-like pendants attached to them; each of the leaves signifying some deity or their other forms and thereby carrying a very distinct marker of religion in it.

Another piece of jewellery with religious representation in it, this is a necklace made up of coins. The coins themselves are intricately detailed and decorated, with inlaid carvings of Lakshmi and Ganesha in them.

Another form of traditional Maharashtrian necklace, this is one made up of golden beads and is usually long. It has its distinct style in being multi-layered, which may vary from a meager two to an impressive eight.

This one is an ornament for the nose. A very traditional one at that, this is not worn regularly by the women, but rather during special occasions like religious ceremonies and weddings. This nosepin is distinct from the other nosepins that can be seen usually, and it has its variants like the Brahmani nath and others.

One of the most elegant and graceful of the list of ornaments, this is a necklace which is made up of three layers of pearl with a pendant set at the heart of it.

A choker like jewellery that is used for the ornamentation of the neck, this piece is made up of golden beads woven very closely.

An armband of sorts, the Vaaki is a piece that was traditionally worn in both the arms. However, in modern times it is often worn in a single-arm too.