Colors. Like notes in a symphony, colors come together to create a one-of-a-kind harmony of beauty and expression. They illuminate the world we live in, weaving a vibrant fabric of life that surrounds us at all times. Colors are an integral part of who we are and what we go through in life. They have the ability to elicit emotions, memories, and a sense of place. Each color has a distinct significance and influence on our lives, and we can use them to communicate our thoughts and feelings while also bringing joy and beauty into the world. The Fundamental Three of Design In art and design ..read more

Marriages, for a long time, are required to have some form of jewelry as a marital symbol that the woman never removes during her married life, until widowhood. One such jewelry piece is the permanent marital Indian bridal necklace, the Mangalsutram, which comes from the Sanskrit words mangal, meaning “propitious, blessed, happy, successful, prosperous,” and sutram, meaning “cord”. The groom ties it around his wife’s neck in a ceremony known as Mangalya Dharanam, Sanskrit for “wearing the auspicious”. Decoding the Indian Wedding Necklace The managalsutra is ideally created using 108 fine cotto ..read more

Beautiful and elaborate, Thewa is a 2–3 centuries-old gold jewelry-making art form that originated in the Partabgarh (also known as Pertabgarh or Pratapgarh) district in Rajasthan. Only the men belonging to the lineage of Nathuni Sonewalla, a goldsmith and the creator of Thewa work, practice it. He developed this art form in 1767, during the reign of Maharawat Samant Singh of Partabgarh. As has been the case with many other traditional, established art forms, the craftsmen of this gold jewelry-making art form have managed to retain their trade secrets and have never disclosed all of the specif ..read more

The sun has set; people have started around the bonfire that has just been lit. Plates full of popcorn, peanuts, rewari, gajak, chikki, and jaggery are being passed around with people taking some to munch on and some to toss in the bonfire. Kids and grown-ups alike are singing and dancing around the bonfire. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons This descriptive visual is of what a typical Lohri night looks like. The ambiance becomes a heady mix of sweet aromas, crackling fire sounds, fun, frolic, and the energy of people dancing to and singing in unison the chorus of the iconic Lohri song, Sunde ..read more

The configuration of the Navagrahas and the Navaratna attributed to them creates a symbolism for the universe. As such, the configuration has a profound significance because it is said to awaken the consciousness of the individual's identity and the impact of cosmic forces on each individual. Because each celestial deity is considered to govern a specific direction, the stone that represents him does as well by consequence. The stone, in this configuration, becomes a site into which the deity can come down when the circumstances call for his presence and protection. Image courtesy: Sampat Jew ..read more

Elaborate designs painstakingly handcrafted out of thin sheets of gold fused on molten glass—these breathtakingly beautiful pieces of art arise from a gold jewelry-making technique known as Thewa. Having its roots in the land of the kings, i.e. Rajasthan, Thewa is practiced only by the men of the family related to Nathuni Sonewalla, the goldsmith who is credited with creating this unique gold jewelry-making technique. The Origins of Thewa Gold Jewelry It was in 1767 when Nathuni Sonewella, a goldsmith employed by Maharawat Samant Singh of Partabgarh (also known as Pertabgarh and Pratapgarh), c ..read more

If you were to describe Indian weddings in one word, what would it be? Grand? Vibrant? Jamboree? While all of these words and more do describe an Indian wedding, another word we’d like to add to the list would be adaptive. While Indian weddings are known for being heavily influenced by culture and traditions, they have evolved over time as time changed. Nowadays, getting married is more of a personal choice than a formal obligation. For millennial couples, adapting an old wedding custom to the times of today is the key to moving forward and down the aisle. As a result, they can express themsel ..read more

Gold has a strong ritualistic context in the Indian subcontinent, being an important part of several religious ceremonies and offerings to the Gods and Goddesses. And not just religious significance, gold also has financial significance— it personifies wealth, and as a consequence, people have made serious efforts to possess as much of it as possible. Owing to its fiduciary value, gold has also been considered a “safe” option, and safeguarding one’s financial condition by buying gold jewelry has been a historical practice, especially among Indians. Inflation reinforces in people the notion tha ..read more

If you’re looking for something where you can find absolute fun and frolic, pumped-up music, vivid colors, scrumptious food, enjoyable company, and a hint of culture and traditions, then look no further than an Indian wedding—the perfect mix of everything above and a lot more! Every Indian wedding is a complete movie in its own right. While different cultures across the country may have certain different rituals, the amusement, laughter, warmth, love, respect, and emotions are the same. Common Terms To Know if You’re Attending an Indian Wedding If you’re going to attend an Indian wedding, ther ..read more

In the movie Bajirao Mastani, after Bajirao returns from a triumphant win in a battle against invaders in Bundelkhand, his wife, Kashi Bai, on examining his wounds from the battle hands him a ring of the Navagraha to prevent him from getting any further wounds and protect him from his enemies. This may be a fragment of fiction, but Navaratna jewelry—jewelry consisting of the nine precious gemstones that are related to the nine celestial deities, the Navagraha—and its value and symbolism are very much real. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons Navratna jewelry has significant cultural value in ma ..read more