Gujarati

Traditions

Gujarati Bride and her wedding Gujarat, a state located on the west coast of the country India earns the reputation of being home to two of India’s greatest countrymen – Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. A state booming with high standards of industrialization and always in the high spirits is a fine blend of vibrant culture, diversity and joyous festivals. Keeping a steady pace with modernization and at the same time not letting go of their traditions passed down generations after generations is what it takes to be an integral part of the rich cultural heritage of India. Gujarat wins over many states with its strategic location, having access to the significant port based countries such as Australia, Japan, China, Korea, and the Gulf Countries etc. Additionally the highly skilled and multilingual workforce with strong economic credentials and having a business friendly regulatory environment has helped in earning Gujarat the sobriquet of being the “Growth Engine of India”. Many have admitted to Gujarat being the most cherished place to have ever visited by them. It can be said that the blend of overall social etiquettes, religious practices and varied forms of artistic expressions have given Gujarat a more aesthetic appeal.

Gujarati weddings are full of rituals like any other traditional Indian marriages. The wedding rituals of a typical Hindu Gujarati wedding also known as Lagan or Vivaaha has been thoroughly described below. The initial step is the Match-making process where the Gujaratis start looking for matches for their sons or daughters within their communities. After the completion of the match making process what follows are some pre-wedding and post-wedding rituals. But prior to that let us read about the bridal jewelry that the Gujarati bride adorns on her wedding.

The Bridal Jewelry

Jewelry is perhaps one of the most significant aspects of any wedding. Every bride wants to look beautiful on her wedding day and ornaments do make a woman look more beautiful so like any other Indian weddings, Gujarati wedding jewelries are very unique.

Kundan Rani Haar: It is quite evident from the name that the literal meaning is “queens necklace”. This is a very traditional and a royal piece of jewelry worn by the bride which accentuates her beauty even more.

Damini: This is another piece of ornament the bride is made to wear. It changes the look completely and beautifies her. Damini is worn in the forehead and its side loops are attached to the sides and the middle.

Kundan Butti: A very exquisitely designed jewelry worn as earrings decorated elaborately. The ornament consists of a chain which passes over the crown of the head and the Kundan Buttis are hanged as earrings from the earlobe.

Baju Band: These are armlets worn by the brides in the upper arm complementing with other bridal jewelries.

Kandora: This is a studded piece of jewelry worn by bride around her waist. Very colorful and accentuates her waist area, it also helps in holding her saree together. This can be worn with even lehenga cholis.

Ancia Chandan Haar: Very similar to grandeur associated with Raani Haar, Chandan Haar too holds a very significant place amongst the other traditional ornaments. The design is very abstract with four strands of gold attached together.

Kundan Bangdi: The craftsmanship in all the ornaments is a thing to look out for. Kundan Bangdis are bangles exlusively designed for the brides keeping their preferences in mind.