Kalyan Wiki
Bharatanatyam Jewellery
Bharatanatyam jewellery could be gold plated or could be made of pure gold. It is incredibly traditional and is very heavy in design. The jewellery is made in varying designs and is usually decorated with different types of gemstones. Each jewellery piece is designed to highlight various features of the dancer.
The main components of Bharatanatyam jewellery are different kinds of headpieces, earrings, nose ornaments, necklaces, arm accessories, waistbands, ankle bands, etc. The headpieces include, “Nethi chutti”-which is placed on the head partially falling on the forehead, “Surya and Chandra Pirai”- which is a sun and moon-shaped ornament set on each side of the head, and the “Kunjalam”-which is tied on the end of the braid by a woman. The earrings are called “Jimikki” danglers or “Thodu” meaning large studs. Nose ornaments are “Mookuthi”, a small stud, or “Besari”, a hanging type of nose ornament.
As for the necklaces, there are many types like, “Maanga Maalai” which is a necklace with mango shaped attachments, “Kodi Maalai”, necklaces with attachments of leaves, “Kaasumaalai”, the necklace with coin-like attachments, etc. Arm accessories include, “Valayal”- Bangles, “Mothiram”- finger ring, or “Vangi”- armband. The waistband or “Oddiyanam” is used to tighten and hold the sari (costume) in place. And other types of ornaments are, “Metti”-toe ring, “Kolusu”-anklet and “Chilanka”- a heavy anklet.
Just like the dance form, Bharatanatyam jewellery is also very beautiful and artistic. It makes the dancers very attractive. The jewellery makes not only the dancers, but also the dance form, beautiful.
