Th country of India is a land of diversity in religion, culture, language, tribe, ethinicity, flaura, and almost in every manner i can think of. This land is so diverse that with every 100 miles we can experience a different language and water. From ancient time till day India has repainted this diversity and was able to give it a shape that the very culture is actually a mix of thousands.
What amazes me is the fact that every time i go to a new place i can feel the difference in almost every aspect of life.
Whatever the case is I want to bring to you the various forms of jewelry that has evolved with time to reflect its image in all form of modern jewelry.
Today I would like to talk about the jewelry forms from a state in North East india called as
Arunachal Pradesh.
There are no known written records of the history of the Apatani tribes, however we know that these are the tribal group of people living in the Ziro valley in theLower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh in India.
I love the way they flaunt their jewelry. Th combination of the colors are not only vibrant but spirited.
The most striking feature of the Apatani women is the way they adorn their nose. Small pegs are put in when they are little girls, and as they grow up, the size of the pegs are increased until they are about 2-3 centimeters across. The custom has been explained as an attempt to make Apatani women look ugly so that they would not be taken as slaves by the nearby Nyishi tribe. However it is more probably that the purpose is to imitate the nostrils of a wild animal.
The other tribes in the same state has other diverse forms like the Adis.
CJC795DOM
The Adi (Bokar, Bori, Minyong,Padam, Pasi) tribal women of Arunachal Pradesh wear a distinctive locally made ornament benyop – the belt on which series of three, five, seven or nine brass discs are strung on a cane, screwpine fiber or leather cord.
The largest disc, its spiral motif represents the wheel of life, is placed at the centre, the others arranged in graduated sizes. This ornament is worn by girls and women until the birth of their first child.
The origin of the benyop is explained in a local myth. A male deity fell in love with a mortal woman. Whenever they made love he gave her a benyop disc. When a child was born she removed the disc girdle.
Brass bangles are common and three to eight of them with increasing size from wrist to elbow are worn. On their feet women generally wear cane anklets. Necklaces made of coins are also much favored by the Adi women.
Adi shell necklaces – Aisheri are regarded sacred and more valuable than other ornaments because they are handed down from mother to daughter through many generations.
The Wanchos of Arunachal Pradesh
Only a population of 35k identifies the tribe in Arunachal pradesh as "Wanchos".They exist in the Patkai hills, in the north western part of the Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh which is a state in north eastern part of india.
Before the independence of India in 1947, the Wancho’s were popularly known as a tribe of furious head hunting warriors of Arunachal. According to mythology, the word Wancho is derived from local term Wang-cho, which means the hill man of Wang follower or hill man who lived under the ruler or king. The word Wang stands for Wang (king) and Cho means Hillman.
The Wanchos are essentially head hunters, they use the skulls to adorn themselves and their dwellings. It is believed that the British had forced them to bury all their skulls, however some are still believed to be hidden and kept in ‘morungs’ ( men’s houses), where the father teaches his son to become a man. The Wanchos converse in the local dialect that is of Tibeto- Burman family.
This tribe is known for their art of tattooing. For them tattooing is a way to relive their golden past. The tattoos are pertinent in the leg of Wancho men, however they also have their faces covered with the tattoos.
They are also well known for their art of wood carving. Wancho wood carving was earlier associated mainly with head hunting and human head dominated everything that they made. Of late there has been a departure from the traditional fixed form in many carved figures. Symmetrical postures are replaced by asymmetrical ones, relief works are being experimented in various themes.
They are a very colorful tribe who adorn themselves with a lot of jewellery. Women wear bangles, beads and necklaces made up of silver coins. Women are well skilled in the art of weaving. They also have interesting and striking jewellery carved out of their hunts of animals.
Watch out for this space, I would upload some more details about this vibrant state of India.....
What amazes me is the fact that every time i go to a new place i can feel the difference in almost every aspect of life.Whatever the case is I want to bring to you the various forms of jewelry that has evolved with time to reflect its image in all form of modern jewelry.
Today I would like to talk about the jewelry forms from a state in North East india called as
Arunachal Pradesh.
There are no known written records of the history of the Apatani tribes, however we know that these are the tribal group of people living in the Ziro valley in theLower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh in India.
I love the way they flaunt their jewelry. Th combination of the colors are not only vibrant but spirited.
The most striking feature of the Apatani women is the way they adorn their nose. Small pegs are put in when they are little girls, and as they grow up, the size of the pegs are increased until they are about 2-3 centimeters across. The custom has been explained as an attempt to make Apatani women look ugly so that they would not be taken as slaves by the nearby Nyishi tribe. However it is more probably that the purpose is to imitate the nostrils of a wild animal.The other tribes in the same state has other diverse forms like the Adis.
CJC795DOM
The Adi (Bokar, Bori, Minyong,Padam, Pasi) tribal women of Arunachal Pradesh wear a distinctive locally made ornament benyop – the belt on which series of three, five, seven or nine brass discs are strung on a cane, screwpine fiber or leather cord.
The largest disc, its spiral motif represents the wheel of life, is placed at the centre, the others arranged in graduated sizes. This ornament is worn by girls and women until the birth of their first child.
The origin of the benyop is explained in a local myth. A male deity fell in love with a mortal woman. Whenever they made love he gave her a benyop disc. When a child was born she removed the disc girdle.
Brass bangles are common and three to eight of them with increasing size from wrist to elbow are worn. On their feet women generally wear cane anklets. Necklaces made of coins are also much favored by the Adi women.
Adi shell necklaces – Aisheri are regarded sacred and more valuable than other ornaments because they are handed down from mother to daughter through many generations.
The Wanchos of Arunachal Pradesh
Only a population of 35k identifies the tribe in Arunachal pradesh as "Wanchos".They exist in the Patkai hills, in the north western part of the Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh which is a state in north eastern part of india.
The Wanchos are essentially head hunters, they use the skulls to adorn themselves and their dwellings. It is believed that the British had forced them to bury all their skulls, however some are still believed to be hidden and kept in ‘morungs’ ( men’s houses), where the father teaches his son to become a man. The Wanchos converse in the local dialect that is of Tibeto- Burman family.
This tribe is known for their art of tattooing. For them tattooing is a way to relive their golden past. The tattoos are pertinent in the leg of Wancho men, however they also have their faces covered with the tattoos.
They are also well known for their art of wood carving. Wancho wood carving was earlier associated mainly with head hunting and human head dominated everything that they made. Of late there has been a departure from the traditional fixed form in many carved figures. Symmetrical postures are replaced by asymmetrical ones, relief works are being experimented in various themes.They are a very colorful tribe who adorn themselves with a lot of jewellery. Women wear bangles, beads and necklaces made up of silver coins. Women are well skilled in the art of weaving. They also have interesting and striking jewellery carved out of their hunts of animals.
Watch out for this space, I would upload some more details about this vibrant state of India.....
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