Ankle bracelets or anklets are indispensable to Indian jewelry and to Indian history. Since the prehistoric times, the Indians have had a penchant for elaborately adorning their bodies with jewelry. Silver, gold, gems, and stones defined the intricacy of Indian jewelry. Indian jewelry exhibits a wide variety of styles and ornaments for almost every part of the body. During the ancient times, people religiously adorned themselves in stunning rings, necklaces, and anklets made of metals and crude stones. As jewelry making techniques advanced, Indian jewelry become more refined with gold, silver, and semi-precious stones.Traditionally, the wearing of an anklet is an important Indian custom used to express marital status and integral to wedding garments. Today, the anklet has evolved into stylish statements that can be worn by anyone. There are two basic types of this exquisite foot jewelry, the stiff and the flexible. Stiff anklets are either fabricated or cast by shaping and hammering sheet metals into various shapes. The artisanal techniques of chiseling, engraving, threading, granulation, chain techniques, and wire work make this handmade jewelry an exceptional piece of fine art. More commonly referred to as pajeb or jhanjhar, this flexible variety of employing a close interlocking technique is further enhanced with enticing jingle bells. It has been said that there is no better music to a lover's ears than the seductive sound coming from the steps being taken by his beloved. This beautiful sound has been a constant subject in Indian poetry for several centuries now. |
