Informative

Bangles – A Forgotten Tradition – Their Spiritual and Health Benefits

The dancing girl of Mohenjo Daro is one of the most famous statues of the Indus valley civilization, sculpted about 4300 years ago. One of the most distinguishing characteristics of that statue is her left hand, which is entirely covered in bangles. This confirms that the tradition of wearing bangles is at least four thousand years old in India.

Each state in India has a different tradition when it comes to bangles. Every colour of the bangle has its significance. Apart from the thousands of year-old fashion tradition, wearing bangles has many health and spiritual benefits. Let us take a look at them. 

History of the bangles

Bangles are rigid bracelets worn around the wrists, usually made with metals, wood, ivory, glass, or plastic. Women across the Indian subcontinent and countries like the Arabian peninsula and Africa have been known to wear bangles for thousands of years. Many archeological sites back five thousand years have found bangles made from sea shells, agate, gold, silver, bronze, copper, terracotta soil, wood, etc.

Mohenjo Daro, an archeological site in current Pakistan, found abundant bangles on their excavation sites. Mahurjhari, an excavation site belonging to the Mauryan empire, has found samples of copper bangles on their site dating back to 322 BC. Gold bangles, dated back to 2600, have been found in the prehistoric university of Takshashila, commonly known as Taxila.   

During the legendary wedding of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati, representatives of every community arrived at the venue with their precious gifts. A community of bangle makers called Lakhera made bangles for Maa Parvati. With the utmost love, Lord Shiva gifted those bangles to Maa Parvati as a mark of their marriage. And since then, bangles have become the symbol of love, and all kinds of bangles, especially Lac bangles, have become famous among married women across the Indian subcontinent.

Bangles across India

Punjabi Choora:

Set of Punjabi Choora contains red bangles, which are to be worn by the new bride on both her hands. They often wear them on both hands, keeping them for over a year after the marriage. Usually, these bangles are made of ivory, but these days, they are made of plastic. A few parts of UP, Gujrat, or Rajasthan also follow this tradition.

Rajasthani Lac bangles:

Lac is a natural substance released by certain insects that feed on specific trees. These insects are called Kerria Lacca. Ancient scriptures like Vedas and Shiva Purana mention these insects and trees. May it be a married or unmarried woman, the Rajasthani woman adore the Lac bangles, which are available with a wide colour range and minute craftsmanship.

Bengali Shakha Pola:

Even though wearing bangles are popular across India, almost every state has unique traditions when it comes to wearing bangles. For example, the black and red bangle combination worn by the Bengali married woman. This combination is called Shakha Pola, a sacred symbol of marriage, the connection of the souls, and love. These bangles are known to repel the negativities lurking around the relationship, and Bengali women wore them with extreme pride.

Maharashtrian Hirwa Chuda:

Green bangles, also known as Hirwa Chuda, the green colored bangles are worn by the married women of Maharashtra and Karnataka. For them, the colour green is the symbol of fertility and auspiciousness. During the wedding ceremony, the bride removes her previous bangles, wears these dark green bangles, and then visits the local temple with her husband to seek the blessings of the divine for new beginnings.

Different colours of bangles

Gold bangles are a great symbol of good luck and prosperity.
Silver bangles denote the strength and durability of the relationship.
Purple bangles are a sign of a great deal of independence of thoughts.
Yellow bangles believe in attracting happiness.
Orange bangles invite materialistic success.
Black bangles are an indication of spiritual powers.
Blue bangles are an indication of wisdom and tranquillity.
Green bangles invite fertility and good fortune.
White bangles invite new auspicious beginnings.
Red bangles signify prosperity and energy.

Benefits of wearing the bangles

Wearing bangles improves blood circulation and normalises the pulse of the body. Bangles and wrists are in constant friction, which helps normalise blood pressure. Bangles help in recharging depleted energy levels. Static force on our skin triggers many unwanted responses in our minds, and wearing bangles prevents those unwanted responses. It is also believed that wearing bangles establishes the body’s Nadi (energy channels) balance.

During the baby shower, a mother is gifted with glass bangles. Soon after the sixth month, the baby’s brain cells start to develop. The baby inside the womb gets used to the familiar sound of the mother’s glass bangles. This creates an unbreakable bond between a child and the mother. Not to mention, the glass bangle makes specific vibrations that are soothing to the mother and her child.

Many seekers believe that glass bangles invite Sattvik vibrations in the house. Energy and the ability to take action are called Kriya Shakti. Wearing bangles increases this Kriya Shakti. With the help of sound energy and the pressure point the bangle creates, it purifies the human body by detoxifying the negative vibrations from the body.    

If the bangles are so beneficial to our body’s physical, mental, and spiritual growth, why do men not wear them? In India, even men wear bangles called Kada, Kadaga, or Kadiyam.  

Even though there is plenty of literature available on spiritual practices, it is highly recommended that one learns them under the supervision of a Guru. Everyone has unique spirituality, personality, and experiences. One solution cannot fit all; therefore, it is imperative to seek guidance from spiritual experts to get that unique method, mantra, and meditation method crafted exclusively for you. And hence, we recommend you practise these recommendations mentioned above under the guidance of an expert. 

We hope this blog helped you to understand the importance of wearing bangles and its tradition.  

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