Old Ornaments are disappearing

By Ram Bhoros Kapari

The high status of any woman in the rural areas is not reflected merely by her clothing but by the number and weight of ornaments that she has worn. Receptacle on the head, nose-ring in the nose, necklace or garland of coins in the neck, ring in the finger, anklet in the ankle, ring in the toes, ear-ring in the ear are the ornaments of Mithila women. Among them golden ornaments were not so popular. Earring, nosering and ring were the only golden ornaments used. Men used ear-ring (Kundal) of gold in the ear and silver ring (Baliya) in the hands. Anat of silver was also used by women.

Today these ornaments are disappearing. Ornaments like bala can rarely be seen in the outlying places, otherwise golden ornaments have taken their positions.

In the ancient times, ornaments of flower were used by the wives of sages in the forest whereas at the same time queens during those days used jewels and valuable gold ornaments. The contemporary kings and Emperors had separate storerooms to keep such ornaments. These ornaments were the token of their progress and prosperity.

Later, in the middle age, ornaments came into the use of general people. Queens and kings used to live within the premises of the palace and therefore the general people could only guess on their ornaments.

In the middle age, women were protected but there were increasing assaults upon women by making them ugly not to embellish them. Godana is one of the popular ornaments which has made women ugly. Now a days, such ornaments are very rare to be seen. Godana is portrayed by probing a needle and pouring black liquid that makes the natural body and limbs ugly and has become a profession for some rural women. Like wise, as the ornaments were the means of embellishing beauty and interest, it became a curse by the invasion of looters. The ornaments of rural areas were stored in banks and money lenders. It helps them to draw money for daily expenditure and provides protection of ornaments occasionally only on marriage ceremony and other such functions at home.

Before the invention of silver , our ancestors used to put on the attractive ornaments made of bamboo thin cot and later they used silver ornaments. Gradually the importance of silver ornaments has gone lower and even banks denied to accept them.

Where have all these ornaments gone?

It is seen that modern youths do not even know the names of the eloping ornaments. The popular silver ornaments were necklace, chhara Kachuman, silver belt, bangle, Babju Poit, Agely-Pachheli, Birakhi, Matarmala and Jasam. Similarly, the Haikal, company garland, Coin garland bangle Pahunchi Bak Chhan, Bala, anklet (Kanra), toe-ring, Mangtika Kanbijuli, jhumka etc are disappearing.

Museum should be established in order to preserve such ornaments. We should all seriously be prepared for this set up.

According to the demand of increasing ornaments at Janakpur Market, from 50 lacs up to one crore ornaments are made on a daily basis, says one of the shopkeepers of Janakpur. He adds in, on one side there is a heavy demand of jeweleries whereas on the other the old styles that were worn by the Royals are eloping.

In one side the demand of gold ornaments also increasing these days and silver ornaments having with gold polish are sent to market for sale. These ornaments are more attractive and harmless. These days it has become more popular but its protection is difficult because water and perspiration also make its gold polish faint.

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