There is Indian jewellery and then there is the classic south Indian jewellery. Exuding a charm of their own, these jewellery pieces are classics in their own way and stand out in the clutter that is the Indian jewellery market.
These are unique in their own way and spell charm and elegance from every angle. They look exquisite when paired with a kanjeevaram saree and makes the person wearing it like absolute royalty. They have made a comeback in the jewellery fashion scene with a lot of mainstream Bollywood actresses wearing them for their special occasions.
The sad part about this is that even though south Indian jewellery is so special and unique to India, not a lot of people know about it. Especially the younger generation. This article should hopefully provide a glimpse into this unique world and give them a sense of the heritage and history that they are a part of and one they should preserve.
Temple Necklaces – The south Indian temple jewellery is said to be among the finest, most artful, delicate and intricately designed among all jewellery types. They play an extremely important role in the culture and heritage of all the states in the southern part of India and are essentials at south Indian weddings, festivals and special occasions.
These items of jewellery are imprinted with depictions of different gods and goddesses from across various temples in South India. They are delicately sculpted from gold and silver and have really made a comeback in the fashion scene in the past few years. They are available as necklaces, earrings, bangles, chokers, rings and even kamarbandhs. Any south Indian bride is incomplete without a piece of temple jewellery on her.
Gutta Pusalu – this heritage necklace that originates from Andhra Pradesh is extremely famous all-over South India. Gutta is a shoal of a small fish and Pusalu means beads. The reason why this necklace got this name is because the design of it is like that of a fringe with clusters of small beads of pearls that makes it look very much like the shoal of a fish.
This design is believed to have its origin in the Coromandel Coast areas where the ancient pearl fisheries are located. These types of necklaces are typically made of gold and are set with emerald, rubies and diamonds with bunches of small pearls ornamenting the fringe of the necklace.
There may be variants in terms of length, accents and weight of the necklace but the basis of it remains the same. It can be paired with the latest gold ring designs for a very royal look.
Kasu Malai – Also known as kasulaperu in Telegu, this is a type of necklace that is made by using gold coins which are embossed with figurines of different Gods and Goddesses. The most common Goddess that is found on these coins are Goddess Lakshmi who symbolises prosperity, beauty, abundance and good luck.
Other coins also have Lord Ram, Lord Laxman and Goddess Sita on them. The origin of these necklaces’ dates back to the Vedic period as they have been mentioned in the Rig Veda. They are also found on stone carvings and sculptures in various South Indian Temples. This type of necklace is very versatile in nature and are found as chokers, a short necklace and a long one. They can also have multiple layers in them. Small gold earrings in 5 grams looks very good with this necklace against a beautiful kanjeevaram saree.
The Manga Malai – also known as Mamidi Pindela these are another timeless classic that are loved by women of all ages. They are available in beautiful mango shaped motifs as they are said to symbolize perfection, life and eternity. These necklaces can be found in various lengths and can also come with a combination of precious stones, semi-precious stones and gems.
