Traditional Indian Wedding Bindi

One small but beautiful detail that most Indian brides share on their wedding day is a bindi, the red dot that adorns their forehead between their eyebrows. A bindi on the forehead is a sign of marriage, and this guarantees the social status and sanctity of the institution of marriage. As the Indian bride steps through the doors of her husband’s door with the red bindi on her forehead, the bindi is believed to bring prosperity. Why between the eyebrows? This area is the sixth chakra known as the seat of concealed wisdom. The bindi between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the body and control many levels of concentration. It also symbolizes good fortune, which every bride wants on her wedding day! The traditional bindi is red or maroon, and is applied skillfully with fingertips to achieve the perfect dot. One Indian proverb says “A woman’s beauty is multiplied 1,000 times when she wears a bindi”- so true for all our beautiful Indian brides!

 

 

Image credits: Biyani Photography, The Indian Wedding Blog, Maharani Weddings, Tumblr, Maharani Weddings, Dolls of India

Traditional Indian Wedding Jewelry

In Indian tradition, women are given jewelry as gifts throughout their life. Soon after a child is born, the family starts saving for the gifts given to the bride to be worn on the day of her wedding. Jewelry that is given to a woman at the time of her wedding symbolizes wealth, power, and femininity. The tradition of Indian brides wearing bridal jewelry dates back 5,000 years and has strong roots across all Indian cultures. Indian wedding jewelry is an heirloom treasure, often passed down from one generation to the next. Each different state and region has a unique style and design of wedding jewelry. Popular jewelry items for traditional Indian brides include a heavy neckpiece and matching earrings, nose ring, bangles, toe rings, anklets, and many other ornate pieces. Gold jewelry is a beautiful addition to any bride on her wedding day, and the Indian traditions make it that much more special!

Photo credits: Maharani Weddings, Maazu, Bargello, Brides, High 5 Store, onewed

TLC’s New Show “Oh My Gold”

Lifestyle network, TLC is launching a new show, “Oh My Gold” with Lisa Ray, noted fashion model and actor, as the host.  The series will follow Ray as she travels to Indian cities, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Kochi, Delhi and Chennai, to educate viewers on everything about gold and its influence in Indian culture. She will showcase many intricate and lavish ethnic designs in jewelry, from precious stones to gold, and show how the jewelry is made. The five-part series airs July 11, 2011 on India’s TLC.

Funky Shoes

Who said that shoes have to be simple and classy? I have an obsession with shoes, and I have my favorites and my least favorites but no one can go wrong with a funky pair of Christian Louboutins. Here are some of his 2011 Spring/Summer collection shoes.