Ornaments of Rajasthan

As a land of princely states, Rajasthan has a natural attraction towards ornaments for both men and women . These ornaments were designed to suit various occasions and rituals, enhancing the grace and beauty of the wearer . Modern jewelers have continued this tradition by innovating upon traditional designs to keep pace with changing times .

Ornaments of Women

1. Head and Forehead Ornaments

These are also known as Chuda Ratna .

• Shishfool (शीशफूल): A golden chain where the front hangs on the forehead and the back is tied at the bottom of the head .
• Bor/Borla (बोर/बोरला): A berry-sized ornament of gold or silver, with a granular front and a hook on the back for tying to the forehead .
• Rakhdi (रखड़ी): Similar to a Borla, worn over the vermillion (sindoor) on the forehead .
• Bindi/Tiki: A colored dot-like ornament placed at the center of the forehead .
• Maimand (मैमन्द): A popular forehead ornament, which is also the subject of many folk songs .
• Tiddi Bhalko (चटड्डीभलको): Worn just below the vermillion .
• Gophan (गोफन): An ornament interlocked with the locks of hair .

2. Ear Ornaments

• Karnfool (कर्णफूल): A flower-like ornament with precious stones, worn in the lower part of the ear .
• Jhumka/Jhumki: Similar to a Karnfool but with circular gold-plated earrings and an attached gold chain .
• Bajati: An ornament attached to the Jhumka .
• Peepal-Patra (पीपल-पत्र): A gold or silver ring-shaped ornament worn on the upper part of the ear .
• Oganiya (ओगननया): Shaped like beetle leaves, made of gold and silver, and worn on the upper part of the ear .
• Gudada: A pearl affixed to a golden wire .
• Toti/Toti (टोटी): Worn on the lower side of the ear .
• Latkan: Shaped like a bunch of grapes .
• Bhadrayan: Worn on the upper end of the ear, typically in numbers of 4 to 11 .
• Others: Jhela, Jamela, and Agotya are also ear ornaments .

3. Nose Ornaments

• Nath (नथ): Worn on the nose and attached to the Maimand via a chain .
• Laung (लौौंग): A clove-shaped ornament on a fine golden wire, fixed with precious gems .
• Kanta (काौंटा): A small gold or silver nose ring with a small key fixed on it .
• Bhanvra: A larger Laung, commonly worn by women of the Vishnoi caste .
• Besari (बेसरी): A light golden wire imprinted with a dancing peacock, tied to the head with a thread .
• Bhogali: A hollow, column-shaped ornament worn in place of a Kanta .
• Chop (चोप): An ornament for the nose .

4. Teeth Ornaments

• Choonp (चूौंप): A golden nail studded into a small hole made between the teeth .
• Rakhan (रखन): A gold or silver plate fitted over the teeth .

5. Neck Ornaments

• Haar/Necklace: Gold and silver ornament with precious gems .
• Chandrahar: A moon-shaped necklace popular in urban areas .
• Jhalra (झालरा): A necklace made of gold or silver strings with metal balls .
• Kanthla (काौंठला): An ornament for children with small gold or silver leaves .
• Kanthi/Chain: A thick gold chain with a locket, famous in the Marwar region .
• Muktmala/Sumargi: A bead made of pearls, worn by women from rich households .
• Hansli (हँसली): A thick, circular necklace of gold or silver .
• Tussi/Thussi (ठुस्सी): A heavy, large necklace, also known as 'Galpatiyo' .
• Timaniya/Dhamnyo/Aad/Tedyo (नतमनर्या): A square-shaped ornament of three gold strings attached to golden sticks .
• Hamel (हमेल): A golden necklace-shaped ornament popular in the Shekhawati region .
• Khungali (खूौंगाली): A circular gold or silver ornament with a hook .
• Bajanti: Small gold balls woven onto a strip of cloth .
• Tanti (ताौंती): A silver wire or thread tied on the neck or wrist in the name of a deity .
• Aad (आड): A square gold ornament given to the bride by the groom's side, tied on the neck with golden threads .
• Tulsi: A bead of pearls worn with Timaniya and Thussi .
• Mandaliya (माौंदनलया): A small, drum-shaped ornament strung on a black thread .
• Ramnabhi (रामनाभी): A long golden pendant with Mandaliyas attached on both sides .
• Mangalsutra: A necklace of black pearls, symbolizing a wife's love for her husband .
• Champkali: Another ornament for the neck .

6. Hand Ornaments

• Chudiya/Bangles: Circular ornaments made of gold, silver, or other metals .
• Bangdi (बौंगड़ी): A bangle-like ornament with a gold coating .
• Nogari (नोगरी): An ornament made of grouped strings of beads, worn between bangles .
• Kada: A metallic ornament wider and larger than bangles .
• Aanvla Sevta (आँवला-सेंवटा): A solid silver ornament worn with a Kada .
• Langar (लौंगर): Made of thick silver wires, worn beneath the Kada .
• Gajra (गजरा): Made of small pearls, this ornament sticks to the hand rather than hanging loosely .
• Kankan: Gold and silver hand ornament .
• Gokharu (गोखरू): Small, triangular-shaped jewelry made of gold and silver .
• Punch (पँूच): An ornament worn on the wrist .
• Hathfool/Sovanpan (हथफूल/सोवनपान): Worn on the back of the palm, it connects the fingers, thumb, and palm with golden chains .
• Vallya/Ballaya (वल्लया): An ornament for the hand .

7. Finger Ornaments

• Anguthi/Beeti/Mundari: A circular metallic ring worn on the fingers .
• Mudrika: A ring with precious stones and gems .
• Damna/Damni (दमना/दमनी): A large ring worn across two fingers .
• Arsi (अरसी): A ring worn on the thumb .

8. Arm Ornaments

• Tadda/Anat (टड्डा/अनत): Made of copper rods with gold and silver coating, resembling a 'Chuda'. Known as 'Adkaniyo' in the Bhinmal region .
• Baju-bandh/Utarno (बाजु-बौंध): A belt-like gold ornament worn on the arms for weddings. A smaller version is called 'Bhuj-bandh' .

9. Waist Ornaments

• Kanakti (कनकती): A belt with many chains affixed, hanging loosely on the waist .
• Satka (सटका): Made of gold and silver rings, used for hanging keys, and worn above a lehenga or saree .
• Takdi (तकड़ी): An ornament of gold or silver .
• Chauth: A chain made of rectangular silver nets .

10. Foot Ornaments

• Kada: A solid, circular silver ornament .
• Aanvla (आँवला): A gold or silver ornament shaped like the Indian Gooseberry (Amla) .
• Nevri (नेवरी): Resembles anklets and is worn with the Aanvla .
• Payal/Ramjhol/Payjeb: A small circular chain with metallic balls .
• Tanka (टर्का): A circular silver ornament that makes a "Tanak" sound when walking .
• Jhanjhar: Similar to an anklet, producing a unique sound .
• Toda (तोड़ा/तोड़ो): Made of thick silver, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, worn beneath the Kada .
• Heera-Nami (हीरा-नामी): A silver, Kada-like ornament famous among rural and tribal women .
• Tedhadh (तेधड़): An ornament for the feet .

11. Toe Ornaments

• Bichiya/Bichudi (नबनिया/नबिुड़ी): A ring worn on the index toe, symbolizing marital life and love .
• Golma (गोलमा): Simple, wide silver rings worn on the toes .
• Angutha (अौंगूठा): A ring-like ornament for the big toe .
• Pagpan (पगपान): Similar to a Hathfool, it connects rings on each toe and thumb with a chain worn on the foot .

Ornaments of Men

• Fingers: Anguthi/Ring .
• Wrist: Kada .
• Ear: Laung, Murakiyan, Jhale .
• Neck: Chain, Pendal, Mandaliya, Ramnami .
• Arm: Bhuj-Bandh .

Ornaments of Children

• Hunsuli/Hansali: A neck ornament .
• Kadulya: A bracelet worn on hands and feet .
• Nazarya: A neck ornament to ward off evil eyes, made by tying gold, moong, and rattanchanan .
• Jhanjharia/Painjani: A thin chain with ghungharis (bells) worn on the feet .
• Kudhak: A gold or zinc earring .