Your Guide to Traditional Indian Accessories

Traditional Indian accessories are unlike any other. They are colourful, detailed and are imbued with cultural, religious, and spiritual significance.

In both the formal and casual sides of Indian clothing, there are seemingly countless items to consider. If you’re not too familiar with these garments, it can quickly become overwhelming. Things can become even more intimidating if you’re planning to attend a traditional Indian wedding or another formal event wearing one of these accessories.

So, what is the cultural significance of these garments? How do you make sure you’re respecting the traditions while also maintaining your stylish flair?

To help you out, we’re going to list traditional Indian accessories and discuss their uses as well as their cultural significance.

Dupatta

The dupatta is a traditional shawl that covers the head and the shoulders. It is mostly worn by women and is typically matched with the kurta or with the gharara in Muslim traditions. In South Asia and Central Asia, it is commonly worn as a part of shalwar kameez, a traditional outfit in that region.

In the past, the dupatta was used as a symbol of modesty. In the South Asian regions, it is typically used when women are entering a church, a mosque, or a temple.

However, more recently, people have started to use the dupatta as a decorative accessory. For example, it is sometimes paired with western clothing and is used more as a scarf or a stole rather than a full shawl.

Pagri

The pagri is a traditional headdress that is often worn by a groom during a wedding ceremony. There are different styles and variants of the pagri, including the safa, sela pencha and the sehra. Who gets to wear the pagri during the ceremony and the size of the accessory depends on the variant. For example, with a sehra, only the groom gets to wear it during the ceremony. With a safa, however, all men in the ceremony are expected to wear it.

Generally, the pagri is symbolic of respect, status and pride. During a wedding ceremony, the groom’s pagri is the one that needs to stand out the most. For this reason, red headdresses are very common in weddings. In fact, style and fashion have become so ingrained in modern society that, nowadays, there are even designer sherwanis for the groom.

Bindi

The bindi is a red dot that is applied to the centre of the forehead or between the eyebrows. It is worn by a wide range of people across different religions and geographical regions. Women in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan often use this accessory. Hindus in Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines and Malaysia sometimes use the bindi as well.

Since it’s used across a number of cultures, the bindi can symbolise a wide variety of things. In Hinduism and Buddhism, it can be representative of one’s third eye, a mystical eye that symbolises a path to higher consciousness.

It is also used by married (or to be married) women to signify their commitment to their partner.

Bangles

Bangles are thin ornaments that are used to decorate a married woman’s forearms. They usually come in a variety of colours and are made from beautiful materials such as ivory, shells, timber, glass, gold, and silver. Its use is common in India. However, bangles are also seen on women from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

Traditionally, the bangles represent a woman’s femininity and suhaag (love and loyalty towards their husband). It can also symbolise prosperity in marriage as well as personal health and luck.

Much like the dupatta, bangles are now commonly used to enhance modern western-influenced outfits.

Toe Rings

Toe rings (or bitchuya) are another form of clothing that represents marriage. It is usually worn on the second toe and is placed there by the husband during the wedding ceremony. Traditional toe rings are quite ornate but modern ones are beginning to embrace a more minimalistic look.

Beside signifying a woman’s marriage, it is claimed by Aryuvedic practitioners that toe rings also offer several physical benefits such as regulating the menstrual cycle. It is important to note that, though Ayurveda is practiced in India and Nepal by most of the local population, the system is considered to be a form of ‘alternative’ medicine and is largely pseudoscientific.

Hopefully, this has helped you better understand some of the common Indian accessories. Understanding the symbolism and history behind these items will allow you to appreciate the garments more. More importantly, a deep understanding of the culture will give you the confidence to properly wear these accessories during traditional events.