Indian look cannot be complete without a Bindi … Agree?

Friday, January 8th, 2010
Aishwarya Rai in Devdas

Aishwarya Rai in Devdas

Today morning is really splendid for me … now you must be thinking what next, right? It’s my best friend’s marriage today. And after a very long time, I have dressed up in all that jazzy and sumptuous Indian costumes. Yes,  everyday I vent my hidden love for Indian fashion through my blog but now for a change I am actually trying out some of the stuff I have been talking about through my blog.

You know what I am wearing a dazzling maroon silk saree and some heavy gold jewelries …. Trust me; anybody would have looked just perfect in this Indian attire. It makes me feel so complete and feminine! But now guys one think I am confused about is the bindi that will go along with my outfit … can you help on this?

Oh! Here’s my friend who has come forward to help me. She says no Indian attire is complete without an appropriate bindi. Gosh, now bindi also has to be appropriate! But don’t you think she is right? Yes, she is! Wearing or applying a bindi doesn’t just include the fashion aspect. The red ‘kumkum’ (which was normally applied by women earlier) between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration. Facts apart, with changing fashion, today women try out many shapes and designs. It is, at times a straight vertical line or an oval, a triangle or miniature artistry (‘alpana’) made with a fine-tipped stick, dusted with gold and silver powder, studded with beads and crusted with glittering stones. The advent of the sticker-bindi made of felt with glue on one side, has not only added colors, shapes and sizes to the bindi but is an ingenious easy-to-use alternative to the powder. Today, if you see, bindi is more of a fashion statement than anything else, and the number of young populace sporting bindis is overwhelming even in the West.

Isn’t that great? Anyway let the trend be anything, I am going to wear those old traditional round bindis for my friend’s wedding; as the ones that Aishwarya wore in Devdas. Didn’t it give that perfect thakurayin look to Aishwarya? I just loved it … what about you?

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Wear a Maangtika and adorn your perfect wedding look!

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
Kaboodle

Kaboodle

Wedding is undoubtedly a grandiose occasion for Indians. In India, everyone, be it a poor person or a rich person, wants everything the best for their wedding. And what else, the more you show off; the more you are accepted in the society. Especially for women, getting decked up with maximum ornaments becomes their ultimate goal!

Talking about wedding ornaments, trend these days is maangtika, which is used to adorn the centre forehead parting of the bride. And why won’t it be a rage when bollywood queens, viz, Aishwarya Rai and Shilpa Shetty adorned their forehead with this jewelry during their wedding.  The most attractive part of Aishwarya’s and Shilpa’s entire look was the maangtika that they wore which really stood out spreading out like an umbrella over their head. Even in the movie Jodha Akbar, Aishwarya Rai looked stunning wearing adorable maangtika in gold and covered with diamonds and elaborate “benis” to decorate the braid.

Maangtika is one of the most traditional and native jewel of the Indian culture and is very popular for its traditional look and intricate designs. Maangtika in gold and diamonds have become a rage these days. This piece of jewelry which is considered almost mandatory for the bride is now also a favorite with the bride’s close relatives. What more this elegant ornament can also be worn with Western attire. Maangtikas are available in different styles and colors. Usually, for bridal wear, a Maangtika with a decorative centre piece is preferred, similar to one that Aishwarya Rai worn in Jodha Akbar.

So if your wedding is at offing, you know what not to miss the most in your shopping for jewelry?