A recent trend that is on the rise with urban Indian women is them saying goodbye to traditional accessories that immediately indicate a woman’s marital status. Post the wedding day or a few days later, many women find it cumbersome or not in vogue to wear accessories like bangles, toe rings, mangalsutra, sindhoor or a nose ring. Earlier, it was taboo to withdraw these, as they were associated with the well-being of the husband. Today, there are quite a few women who feel these are outdated concepts and these accessories don’t get along with their regular dressing sense or that they need not make a statement to the world about their marital status.
Geeta K M, a landscape designer, married for over 21 years says, “as a matter of fact on a daily basis, I do not wear all these accessories like toe rings or even my mangalsutra. It is not that I find them not in vogue as much as I do feel that there is absolutely no need for me to project all the time that I am married.”
It could be that the urban woman is also seeing other corporate women across the world who maintain a look devoid of traditional accessories. Also a point stressed by fashion experts to ‘dress in which you are comfortable most’, a statement that many women agree upon.
Anupama A, a senior manager, in an IT firm says, ” for me, the primary reason is that accessories like bangles interfere in my job when I am working on the computer for a long time. Similar is the case with toe rings which hurt when I wear certain shoes. Secondly, I do feel these accessories don’t go with the kind of outfits I wear, whether it is western outfits or even salwar kameez.”
It is not only working women who prefer to get away from these accessories. Homemaker Ambika Avinash who is married for over nine years wonders, ” Isn’t it an individual choice? On a regular basis, I don’t wear them. Though for traditional functions I like to dress with lots of bangles and other accessories that can match the mood.” This is a thought seconded by others too who feel that earlier, Indian women would wear them as they were made compulsory by elders. Today with lesser restrictions placed on these matters, many are opting to wear them or not out of their choice. Also quite a few women feel accessories like dozens of bangles or detachable nose rings can be worn for specific occasions.
While a lot of married women feel traditional accessories like toe rings and bangles do not come in their list of fashion fundas, there are also women who feel strongly on the point that it is these very accessories that make an Indian woman look good. Take for example Kalavathi Murlikrishna, a lady married for over thirteen years. ” Having been a Bharatanatyam dancer at one point of time, I feel it is accessories like these that make a woman look more beautiful especially when worn with garments like the saree.”
Indian roots
In the case of Philomina Natarajan, wearing traditional accessories is being close to Indian roots and culture.” Anytime you can catch me with my sindhoor, toe rings and mangalsutra. When I wear western outfits too, I make it a point to have these accessories on as they are very much part of me, though I don’t sport a big bindi on my forehead on certain outfits. And I definitely feel no matter how you dress, wearing these accessories make you look Indian.”
Women find it is fashionable to wear designer bangles that match their sarees rather then plain-looking glass bangles. Even the traditional bindis have given way to unusual and trendy designs that match with the times.
As the rising fashion barometer indicates, it looks though that irrespective of being a working professional or a homemaker, wearing accessories like toe rings, nose ring or even a mangalsutra is completely an individual’s choice.