The symbols of marriage prevail in all countries and cultures. However, unlike the wedding ring worn by both husband and wife in the West, Indian culture has a wide variety of marriage symbols that vary from region to region. It should also be noted that these symbols apply only to women. Married men do not have to flaunt symbols to show that they are married as we live in a patriarchal society. However, the symbols of marriage are considered auspicious at all weddings including Bengali marriage.
While the mangalsutra is the common marriage symbol in North India, Bengali married women differ on this one. With marriage, a Bengali woman gains three types of bangles: shakha, pola, loha, and a red dye called vermilion or sindoor. These bangles are to be worn all the time by married Bengali women and vermilion applied in the parting of the hair.
Meaning of these symbols
Shahkha are white bangles made from conch shells that often come with beautiful carvings. Pola are red because these are made from red corals. These two bangles are the most common marriage symbols for Bengali Hindu women besides the vermilion, and are supposed to be worn on both hands. A woman is made to wear these bangles with the completion of the marriage ceremony and they are meant to be worn throughout her married life. The bracelets are supposed to ward off the evil eye and bring good luck to both the husband and the couple’s married life. Since these bangles are very fragile in nature, care must be taken that they do not break in the first year of marriage. In such a case, it is considered a bad omen for the woman because evil may befall her husband.
Loha is a bracelet made of iron and can also be plated with gold. It is carried in the left hand and is given to the bride by her mother-in-law when she formally enters the marital home. Vermilion is a red dye that is supposed to be used in the parting of her hair. Since red is the color associated with a woman’s married status, wearing sindoor shows the world that she is already married and prevents other men from coming on to her.
Relevance in modern society
The symbols of marriage are only for women in Indian culture as in our society a woman ceases to belong to her father’s family once she marries. To imply that she now has a different identity, she needs to have these symbols of marriage on herself. These symbols are also supposed to ward off bad luck and evil.
However, many of today’s modern and liberated women prefer not to use these symbols. They can avoid all of this altogether or just wear loha. Sindoor is also used sparingly by Bengali Hindu women. With the evolution of society and the increasing importance of women, these bracelets have now become jewelry pieces and are found in various designs and styles.