Gaddi Ornaments

The silver ornaments are more common than golden ones among Gaddi women. But this largely depends upon the availability and economic status.Most of the traditional gaddi ornaments are silver with mina work on it. In mina work the pattern of the jewellery is filled with colour.Ornaments has peculier motifs and designs. Silver ornaments are weighty and of peculiar design also considred sacred in Gaddi community.But for nose gold is considered good notion than silver.Ornaments are worn on both sides of nose, Balu on one side and Fulli on other side. Small ornaments are of gold.Traditionally gaddi jewellery was a heavy but now-a-days its weights is reducing according to the taste of wearer.The community has total dependence on local market for its jewellery.As a result they contribute good business to local sunars (goldsmiths). Woomen has often sing songs about getting their jewelery, like ‘Churi-banga koke ghadi diyan vo suniara.. Koke ra rawaj bara bhari.. ho’.
Chak and Chiri are the silver ornaments meant for hair. Chak is made of silver is very light in weight. Hair clips are also used to keep the hair dressed. These are also made of silver. Necklaces are very popular among gaddi women. Necklaces are mostly made of silver and can be prepared by silver smiths of the village. They are still of the traditional design. Chandan Har and Champakali are the famous ornaments. Some Gaddi women were seen with golden Necklace ” Kandu” which weighs approximately 20 to 30 grams. Many Gaddi women wore necklaces of silver rupee coins wearing emblem of Queen Victoria to which they called “Malka Rupiya”. Many necklaces were just coins of 4 Annas and 8 Annas of pure silver with sume superstitios belief. They also wear the strings of red, white and green beads.
Ornaments of nose have their social and religious importance as these are considered the sign of “Suhag” of the women. Widow gaddans do not wear any ornament in the nose. Long, Koka, Tilli. and Balu are the ornaments of nose. Balu is worn on certain ceremonies. A golden ornament in the centre of nose is worn which is known as Black.

Variety of ear ornaments are worn by gaddi women. Some times 3 to 4 ear rings are worn for which the ear is pierced at 3 to 4 places. Some Gaddi males also wear ear rings. Among the ornaments of ear, Bali, Bunde, Jhumke, Kante, Latkni; Tungni and Kanphuls are famous. Silver bracelets are worn by Gaddi women. Gojru, Toke, Kangnu, Snangu and Bangan are the famous ornaments. Gaddi women do not miss the opportunity of purchasing bangles in the fairs. Finger rings are also worn and is known as “Mundri”.

Some giddi women wear rings in their ankles and toe fingures. Some old gaddis had kept “Kan khurkani” and I’Dand khurkani with them. Even male gaddis belonging to upper strata of the community wear gold rings in ears and they call it “Murkies”. Gaddi women keep long hair which are dressed with wooden comb known as `Kangi’ which functions from both sides. Some have started using rubber/plastic combs. Gaddans while combing hair part them in centre and thus the hair on both sides are some times tied in many plaits and then a long braid is tied with cotton or silken “Parandu” of red or black colour. Some times they tie the hair with simple “Dori”. Married women put vermilion in their mangs. A big red “bindli” or bindi is also put on the forehead. Some women decorate their hair with flowers. Women do not comb their hair daily. Mehandi is used by Gaddi women during marriages and other occasions. Men are not very particular about their hair dressing. Some young gaddis may comb their hair but old gaddis did not care to comb hair even for long time.