From India To Sri Lanka: Unique Bridal Accessories Across South Asia

South Asian wedding fashion is the perfect blend of opulence, culture, and personal style, with a bride's ensemble telling a story of feminine strength and celebration. These looks are incomplete without exquisite accessories that are not just about aesthetics but rather add deep, significant meaning to the bride's attire. While there are thousands of unique wedding trousseaus and traditions across the subcontinent, in this article, we explore some of the most iconic and essential accessories in different regions of South Asia.

Tilhari Potey Mala- Nepal Hindu Brides

Tilhari Potey Mala is a marital symbol among Nepali brides. It comprises strings of tiny glass beads (potey) and a hollow cylindrical pendant made of 18-24 karat gold (tilhari). According to tradition, the bride's father buys the tilhari before the marriage, and the groom's family gets the potey as a gift. The traditional colours of the beads are red (which is said to symbolise fertility) and green. It can be worn as a necklace or as a sling/sash.

Dejhoor- Kashmiri Pandit Bride 

Kashmiri Hindu brides wear the Dejhoor, an earring hanging by a delicate chain. Traditionally, a day before the wedding, the bride-to-be is given the dejhoor by her mother in a ceremony called Devegoan. During this ceremony, the earring is dangled from piercings in the upper ear cartilage using a red thread called nairwan. Then, during the lagan (main wedding day), the groom's parents remove the red thread and replace it with ordinary gold/silver coloured threads called ath. The in-laws also add a tassle-like ornament called an athoor at the end of the earring.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yami Gautam Dhar (@yamigautam)

Passa/Jhoomar- Pakistani/Northern Indian Muslim Brides

In South Asia, Muslim brides wear an ornate hair accessory called passa/jhoomar on the left side of the head's temples. This fan-shaped traditional jewellery is usually made of gold or silver and precious stones. It is often paired with a maang tika adorning a centre part of the hair. This accessory dates back to the Mughal era. More Muslim bridal accessories include a nose ring, kundan chokers, and bangles that give the bride a regal look.

Chiri Tika- Himachal Pradesh Gaddi Bride

Chiri Tika is a heavy silver hair accessory adorning the centre of the forehead, typically worn by women of the Gaddi tribe. It is typically a circular pendant decorated with intricate symbolic motifs. The pendant also has multiple suspended tear-shaped dangles at the bottom. It is believed that chiri tika is worn to channel divine blessings, protect the wearer, and enhance her beauty on her wedding day.

Saggi Phull- Punjabi Brides

Hindu and Sikh brides in Punjab are known for their red bangles (chooda) and golden hanging ornaments (kalire), which are said to be symbols of good luck and blessings. However, did you know about another traditional and unique bridal ornament called saggi phull? It is a belt- hair ornament similar to a headband that is used to hold the heavy dupatta (veil) in place. The saggi phull comes in various designs and is typically made of gold or silver and decorated with gemstones.

Borla and Rakhdi- Rajasthani Hindu Bride

Rajasthani Hindu brides wear a maang tika with a spherical ornament pendant called a borla (circular) or rakhdi (semi-circular). This hair accessory is often paired with a matha patti, a belt-like hair jewellery. The borla or rakhdi sits at the centre of the forehead to signify the bride's "third eye". This is believed to be the "energy centre" that controls rationality, wisdom, and emotions.

Mukut- Bengali Hindu Brides

In West Bengal, Hindu brides wear a crown called a mukut, typically made of shola pith, a dried, spongy plant material. The crown is a symbol of purity, prosperity, and divine blessings and is worn during the Saat Paak ceremony (circling the groom while covering the face with betel leaves) and the Sindoor Daan (vermilion application ceremony). The mukut's white colour is said to represent sanctity and good fortune.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Classy Brides 💍 (@desiclassybrides)

Kajenglei/Leitreng - Manipuri Meitei Brides

The Manipuri Meitei bridal ensemble is unique and ornate. They wear a kajenglei or leitreng, a headdress made of brass strips fastened to red flannel ribbons, accompanied by hair accessories called samjinam and samjithet. According to historical documents, this accessory is believed to have developed during King Gambhir Singh's reign. This accessory is worn with more traditional jewellery like maang tika, kiyang likphang, marei parang, khimarun, and likchow. The traditional bridal outfit is called kumin potloi, an embellished cylindrical stiff skirt.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Randeep Hooda (@randeephooda)

Chuddo- Goan Catholic Brides

In Goa, there is a traditional wedding ritual where the Catholic bride wears a set of colourful glass bangles called "chuddo" with her white wedding dress. The bangle seller, called a kakonkar or volar, is invited to the bride's house a month or a few days before the wedding. The kakonkar fits different bangles onto the wrists of the bride-to-be and her relatives. Some local folk sing songs in celebration. At the end of the ceremony, the family offers money, rice, and coconut to the kakonnkar.

Jonbiri & Dholbiri- Assam Brides

In Assam, brides wear traditional ornaments called jonbiri and dholbiri, each with deep cultural significance. The jonbiri is a crescent-shaped pendant. It is derived from "joon," meaning moon and "biri," meaning the design around it. Meanwhile, dholbiri is shaped like a dhol, which translates to drum. Both these designs can be used in necklaces, earrings, etc. These accessories can be made of gold and decorated with colourful gems. 

Mundavalya- Maharashtra Hindu Brides

The mundavalya is a forehead ornament worn by both brides and grooms in Maharashtra. It is a delicate string of beads or flowers that is said to represent the couple's togetherness and unbreakable bond. This ornament is worn around the head horizontally and hangs from temples of the forehead to shoulders. It is often also coupled with a baashing, a crown-like forehead accessory. 

Basinga- Kannadiga/Telugu Hindu Brides

Basinga is a traditional headpiece worn by brides and grooms in South India, especially in Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. This accessory is said to represent the unification of the bride and groom. The brides often wear this accessory with a middle part adorned with a mundale (similar to maang tika) or matha patti. Other traditional ornaments include the thaali (wedding necklace, similar to the mangalsutra), jade bille (braid accessories), kamarband (waistband), bajuband (armlet), and anklets. 

Andal Kondai- Tamil Iyengar Bride

The Andal Kondai is a distinct hairstyle sported by Tamil Iyengar brides. It is a tilted bun, adorned with many jewels and a jasmine garland. The hairstyle is said to replicate Andal, a Goddess and pioneering poetess of the Bhakti Movement. The look is typically complete with a nethichutti (similar to Maang Tika), surya and chandra pirai (sun and moon hair accessory), and a braid adorned with ornaments called rakodi.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Keerthy Suresh (@keerthysureshofficial)

Hawadiya- Sri Lankan Sinhala Bride

The Hawadiya is a hip chain adorned by many Sri Lankan brides. It is a significant part of Kandyan jewellery, a set of heritage Sinhalese ornaments with a regal history. Hawadiya, among other jewellery like moon and sun hair ornaments, karapati (throatlet), earrings, agasti necklace, sarri (thick bangles), are symbolic of wealth, prosperity, grandeur, strength, well-being, solidarity, virtue, passion and valour. Bridal Kandyan jewels are exclusive and rare, with only a selected number of families possessing the entire set.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brides Of Sri Lanka Magazine & Website (@bridesofsrilanka)