Weekend Feature: Why Married Women Wear Bangles?

By Parvati Rathod | INNLIVE

Bangles are one of the basic accessories that women wear. Be it married or unmarried, bangles are one of the feminine accessories which adds a charm to the look.

There are many types of bangles in different shapes, sizes and designs that are available in the market. Although bangles are worn for style all over the world, the ornament holds a special significance in Hinduism.

While some men wear a single bangle known as kara, women wear a lot of bangles after marriage, known as Kangan. Married Hindu women wear bangles as a form of Shringar.
Bangles are one of the ornaments which are considered important after marriage as it is associated with the matrimony. It is almost similar to the wedding ring in the western culture. The bangles have been found in archaeological sites in India, with the oldest examples dating back to 2,000 B.C. or earlier. 

Bangles are one of the ornaments from the bride's Shringar which is considered mandatory. Bangles are associated as a symbol of matrimony. That is why married women wear bangles of copper, glass, wax or other metals every time after they get married. In some cultures, the girl can not keep her wrists empty even after the engagement is done. The bride-to-be has to wear bangles especially at festivals before the marriage as well. Sikh brides wear red and white carved bangles called ‘chuda’. 

In other cultures, wax or glass bangles are worn by the brides to symbolise marriage. Married women wear bangles as a charm of safety and luck for her husband. 

It would be interesting to know that the colours of the bangles also have significance. For example, red bangles seen in almost all cultures symbolise energy. Blue bangles symbolise wisdom, green for luck and yellow for happiness.

Even orange is a colour which means success, white ones mean new beginnings and black ones mean power. Bangles are so important in Hinduism that any Puja or festival is incomplete without the married woman wearing her basic shringar items which includes bangles. 

In Hinduism, if the husband dies,t he bangles of the widow is broken from her wrist and she is barred to wear any sort of Shringar after the husband's death. Moreover, if the bangles break accidentally also, it is considered a bad omen. These are the significance of wearing bangles in Hinduism. 

Every culture and caste has its own customs and bangle types as well as colours. For example, red bangles made of conch are popular in Bengal. Wax or Lah bangles are a must for married women in Rajasthan and Haryana. Similarly, green colour is mandatory Kannada brides. Whatever is the material, type or colour, to conclude we can say that bangles are crucial ornaments for the married woman in Hinduism.