Maang Tikka

An item of jewelry that has a hair pin at one end and a hanging ornament at the other, the maang tikka forms a valuable part of an Indian bride's trousseau. Though usually worn by brides with the hair parted in the middle, it is also worn on special occasions by women with different hairdos. Historically, the adornment has representations in ancient artifacts. Hindu mythology reveals its connections to the third eye, as the tikka rests on the sixth chakra of the forehead. The centre of the forehead is also associated with the ability to concentrate, and control emotions.

The region of Awadh is popular for the craft of jadau work. This intricate process was introduced by the Mughals, and perfected by Indian artisans. The jewelry is embellished with precious and semi-precious stones, gems, crystals and beads, by embedding them in melted gold. The process requires precision and attention to detail: the chiteria is responsible for creating the design, the gharia does the tasks of pinning holes and engraving, and the meenakar performs the enameling. The fixing of the stones and gems takes place without any adhesives or carvings. The setting of just 4-5 stones can take an entire day. Jadau is not limited to jewelry and is also done on other items like idols and decorative boxes.

This particular maang tikka is 50 years old and was made in Lucknow using jadau technique. Passed down through generations, it was originally worn by the contributor's grandmother at her wedding.

Contributed By :

Haya Wakil