Colour And Meaning

Glass bangles hold different meaning according to their color. Some regions have specific bangles associated with their local traditions, and there is more general color code for bangles as well. Red bangles symbolize energy, blue bangles symbolize wisdom, and purple symbolizes independence.  Green stand for luck or marriage and yellow is for happiness. Orange bangle means success, white ones mean new beginnings and black ones mean power. Silver bangles mean strength, while gold bangles mean fortune.

 In Gujarat and Rajasthan, the bride’s mother has to gift the bride a pair of ivory bangles. It is only on wearing these ivory bangles that the bride couple can perform the ‘saptapati’; without the bangles, this ritual cannot be performed.

Married women in Bengal have to wear the iron ‘Kada’(bangle) or ‘loha’ as it is commonly called, to signify marriage. In  addition to this kada, the bride is presented with white conch bangles that are beautifully carved and red lac bangles.

The South Indian ceremony called Valaikaapu occurs during the seventh month of a woman’s pregnancy. The family celebrates, and the bangles of all color and designs are stacked on the woman’s wrist. Once the ceremony is completed, the woman goes to her mother’s residence. There, she will deliver her child.

It is believed to be an event held to ward off evil spirit that might be lurking around mother to be or the baby in the womb.

-Prateet