In Tamil Nadu, jewellery is worn as a tradition. The ornaments shaped like the sun and moon called Suryapirai and Chandrapirai are set with
rubies interspersed with emeralds and uncut diamond and are worn on the parting of the hair along the forehead.
Behind the hair decoration is worn the Raakkodi or Naagar, a stone-encrusted piece shaped like a five-headed snake with a swan in the centre. Below this, set in stones (rubies and diamonds), is the hairpiece or Jadanaagam that follows the shape of the plaited hair in an intertwined design. Traditional gold ear studs can be Kadukkan (single-stone), Kammal (lotus-shaped with rubies or diamonds), Jhimiki (bell-shaped ear-drops), like the Kempu Kal Jhimiki worn by the Tamil Brahmin bride featured in this section, Lolaakku ( ear-drops of any design) or Maattal which is made of gold or pearls and is hooked to the earring and then attached to the hair above the ear.Ornaments for the nose include the single stoned Mookkupottu or the Besari and muthu studded with eight diamonds or the swan shaped Hamsa Besari, all of which are worn suspended from the central part of the nose. The Tamil Brahmin Bride featured in this section is wearing an Ettu Kal Besari. Also featured here are Kempu Attigai, Lakshmi Haram, Varikkai Haram, and Kilikasu Haram around her neck and stone studded Valayals of a great variety of designs. Mangalsuthra is the main neck ornament that is worn on an auspicious thread or on a gold chain. The pendant on the mangalsuthra indicates the community of the wearer, it could be shaped like a tulsi (holy basil plant), the conch and holy discus of Lord Vishnu or it could be heavily stone-studded as worn by Chettinad women. Vanki, an upper arm ornament, is usually intertwined in shape with a stone-inlaid piece set in gold. Ottiyaanam is a gold or silver belt worn tightly around the waist with stone-encrusted centers. Married women also wear minchi(a tiny, usually, simplistic ring) on their toes to state their marital status.
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rubies interspersed with emeralds and uncut diamond and are worn on the parting of the hair along the forehead.
Behind the hair decoration is worn the Raakkodi or Naagar, a stone-encrusted piece shaped like a five-headed snake with a swan in the centre. Below this, set in stones (rubies and diamonds), is the hairpiece or Jadanaagam that follows the shape of the plaited hair in an intertwined design. Traditional gold ear studs can be Kadukkan (single-stone), Kammal (lotus-shaped with rubies or diamonds), Jhimiki (bell-shaped ear-drops), like the Kempu Kal Jhimiki worn by the Tamil Brahmin bride featured in this section, Lolaakku ( ear-drops of any design) or Maattal which is made of gold or pearls and is hooked to the earring and then attached to the hair above the ear.Ornaments for the nose include the single stoned Mookkupottu or the Besari and muthu studded with eight diamonds or the swan shaped Hamsa Besari, all of which are worn suspended from the central part of the nose. The Tamil Brahmin Bride featured in this section is wearing an Ettu Kal Besari. Also featured here are Kempu Attigai, Lakshmi Haram, Varikkai Haram, and Kilikasu Haram around her neck and stone studded Valayals of a great variety of designs. Mangalsuthra is the main neck ornament that is worn on an auspicious thread or on a gold chain. The pendant on the mangalsuthra indicates the community of the wearer, it could be shaped like a tulsi (holy basil plant), the conch and holy discus of Lord Vishnu or it could be heavily stone-studded as worn by Chettinad women. Vanki, an upper arm ornament, is usually intertwined in shape with a stone-inlaid piece set in gold. Ottiyaanam is a gold or silver belt worn tightly around the waist with stone-encrusted centers. Married women also wear minchi(a tiny, usually, simplistic ring) on their toes to state their marital status.
The Tamil Brahmin Bride's Adornments