Bridal Jewelry

The wedding day is a special occasion for every bride. Swathed in bridal finery, bedecked in magnificent jewelry, with hands and feet and a flutter in her heart, she is poised at the threshold of a whole new life.

 

The jewelry that a bride wears holds special significance. Indian bridal jewelry itself varies from region to region as well as in different communities.

 

Usually, precious stones such as jade, garnet, emerald, amethyst, pearl and coral are widely used in Indian bridal jewelry. These stones are said to pass their own special healing touch to the wearer.

 

The mangal sutra is an important item in the bridal jewelry. This necklace is tied by the husband around the wife’s neck as a symbol of their union. This is usually created on a necklace strung with black beads. It is considered a protection against the evil eye. Brides usually make a few changes to suit their individual tastes, keeping well within the prescribed parameters.

 

A bride from South India wears a thaali as a symbol of their marriage. This is usually in the form of a thick yellow thread with gold pendant.

 

Brides from Maharashtra wear stings of pearls in a cascade from the temples down to the shoulders, framing the face. The Punjabi bride wears bangles that are made of ivory called churas. Some churas are set in ivory with inlay work done on them. They are given by the bride’s mother and it is customary to wear them for about 40 days after the wedding ceremony. Red and green bangles or churas are important in many communities of India..

The parting of her hair is decorated with a gold ornament called the tikka.

 

Toe-rings are another jewelry item that is worn by married women in many parts of the country. The women from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar wear toe-rings called bichwa. Kashmiri women wear a long suspended cord with an ornament from the pierced ears. Brides from Bengal wear the iron kada or bangle called loha. This is artistically encased in gold. A red lac bangle is yet another important bridal jewelry item.

 

Fine filigree jewelry in silver is a hallmark of the artisans of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Filigree work uses silver wires of varying thickness to make geometrical shapes, leaves, flowers and butterflies and birds. Jaipur is famous for enamel work – exquisite bangles and necklaces with colored enamel paneling on crafted gold.

 

Kundan jewelry also finds favor with many Indian brides. Kundan jewelry is characterized by gems embedded in gold leaf and not rim or claw. This jewelry style is inspired by the Mughals. Temple jewelry from South India is inspired by temple statues and motifs and is usually characterized by red and green semi precious stones. Jewelry in the southern states is inspired by nature – paisley motifs, rice grains, melon seeds, cobra head and birds.

 

For beautiful jewelry for that very special wedding day, visit us at http://www.carmaworld.com

Anarkali Style – The Royal era beckons you

 

Hi there!!

 

Its here, its there….its everywhere!

The latest style silhouette to create waves in Indian fashion are the “Anarkali Style” ensembles.

 

This style is absolutely magnificent. Designed as a billowing kurta, which is cin ched at the waist and then allowed to flow out. Usually teamed with a fitted churidar, it is an ideal silhouette for the Indian body type.

 

The style brings alive the royal splendour of the mughal courts alive and swirling.

 

It has become a rage with one and all – whether its the Bollywood beauties or the girl next door, they have all taken famously to the style.

 

Bollywood actresses like Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Vidya Balan, Lara Dutta, Tabu, Juhi Chawla, Madhuri Dixit, Urmila Matondkar, Diya Mirza have all sported this style.

 

For your dose of Indian & Bollywood Style, visit us at http://www.carmaworld.com

The Unforgettable Tour continues…..

The Unforgettable Tour – part 2

We are Going Global!

Hi Everyone!

 

India is going Global! This phrase has recurred at innumerable junctures. And the latest instance to proclaim this has been at the Olympics. The Indian athletes did make a mark but what has set the tongues wagging is the use of a Bollywood song by athletes from Israel.

 

The Israelite gymansts performed their routine on a song from the Farah Khan directed movie Om Shanti Om. A song from this movie was also used by participants at an American dance reality show So You Think You Can Dance.

 

Its amazing to see Bollywood to gain such popularity. That Bollywood leaves a mark on Indians in India & abroad is undisputed but these instances prove that it has made a place in the hearts of audiences worldwide. And for all Bollywood fans, its a moment of great pride and joy.

 

Our message to our Bollywood stars is, Way to Go!!

 

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India makes a Fashion Statement at the Olympics!

Indian Fashion at the Olymics- sounds so out of place. The last thing that our sports contingent managed was to make their presence felt in style.

 

The glorious opening ceremony at the Bird’s Nest saw athletes from around the world proudly walking around the arena. And there were a few who made a fashion statement while at it. While the contingents from USA, France and Australia turned up in designer wear, there were others who turned up in breezy dresses.

 

What were the Indian athletes wearing? The women wore cream colored saris with a border and the men wore sherwanis with red angavastrams. All’s well till you get to know that the outfits were hurriedly sourced from inconspicuous shops in Malviya Nagar and Chandni Chowk in Delhi. Moreover, Sunita Rao and Sania Mirza didn’t even wear the uniforms.

 

Flash back to the Indian Premier League. All the players turned up in uniforms designed by the who’s who of the Indian fashion industry.

 

Aren’t these facts worth a thought?

 

Well, we can only hope that our Sports Ministry will invest a little more time and money in other sports and our players will put up a better show at the next Olympics – both in their performance and their attire.

 

Till then, you keep it stylish with products from http://www.carmaworld.com.

India in Beijing and Beyond…

08/08/08 08:08pm: a grand spectacle unveils at the Bird’s Nest, Beijing, China.

Never have seen a ceremony of such scale and proportion. It left the world awestruck with its brilliant display, innumerable performers and mesmerising fireworks. It compelled the world to sit up and take note that China has come of age. This Olympian revision was simultaneous with a growing concern in India, which is pushing people to take note.

 

Indian performance at the Olympics has never been even worth a mention. The dismal display of sporting prowess never elicited a response. However, this time around the story is a little different. And the difference is that this time, a few players gave it their all to come out triumphant. Players like Abhinav Bindra, Sushil Kumar, Vijender Kumar have shown extraordinary skill, technique, focus, perseverance and drive. The winning attitude, conventionally thought missing in the Indian genetic makeup, distinguished them from their predecessors. However, they are lone warriors who are dependant primarily on themselves. What of those sports that require people to work together as a team? They remain conspicuous by their absence in the medals tally.

It has started the debate all over again- are we a country obsessed with Cricket and oblivious to all else?

Why are our hockey, football and other teams being meted out the stepmotherly treatment?

When will this change?

The solution is not to ignore Cricket but is to develop respect and infrastructure for sports as a whole and other games specifically. It should not be just the individual stretching himself to bring national glory, but the state realising that it is encumbent on it to provide the right platform for the immense talent going waste in India.

And, we should also realise that it is not enough to embrace and applaud our players when they bring laurels to the country but it is extremely important to encourage them to perform their best when they go through rigorous preparation and support them in their periods of trial as well.

 

 

The Unforgettable Tour – the show begins

Hi Everyone!!

 

India is going Global! So is the Indian. All we need to do is take a look at the newspaper to realise that Indians are leaving their mark all over the world. Whether it is the nuclear deal with USA or Abhinav Bindra winning the first individual gold medal for India at the Beijing Olympics, Indira Nooyi or Sunita Williams…there is no stopping us.

 

Our Hindi Film industry has always been at the forefront of this globalisation process. Our actors have time and again proved their mettle in films from various countries. The latest buzz in the industry are the World Tours. The crème de la crème of Bollywood is travelling around the world to entertain people.

 

One such tour is the Unforgettable Tour going on these days. With Bollywood royalty, swish sets, swanky costumes and mesmersing performances, they have taken the world by storm.

 

The success of such tours has proved that Bollywood is a rage not just with Indians but with people all over the world.

 

These success stories herald the age of India proving that India is truly Incredible!

 

Here’s to Incredible India, Cheers!

 

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How to maintain your Jewelry

Hi all!!

 

A woman’s jewelry is her prized possession. It is brought out on special occasions to adorn her and make her look absolutely spectacular. Any piece of jewelry is imbued with emotions, memories and nostalgia- it could have been bought for that most special wedding day or handed down as a heirloom from a great grandmother, and then there is always that aspiration to hand it down to a daughter or daughter-in-law who will cherish it the way you have.

 

The primary concern through all this is how to maintain and preserve your jewelry to ensure that it retains its lustre as long as one continues to wear it.

 

Well, to dispel all that anxiety, here are a few pointers to keep your jewelry glittering.

 

• Put your jewelry into your jewelry box or a soft bag, where it is safe from air, moisture and sunlight.
• Use a clean, soft and dry cloth to clean your jewelry after you take it off so that there is no residue left to spoil it.
• Take off your jewelry when you sleep, bathe, swim and while playing.
• If your piece of jewelry has precious stones in it, then you need to be extra careful.
• Try not to overdo the use of cleaners as it can lead to discoloration.
• Make sure your jewelry is dry before you store it.
• Try and avoid contact with chemical constituents as they can corrode your jewelry.

 

Just keeping a few things can make your jewelry last forever.

 

For exquisite jewelry in kundan, polki, silver and faux gold, visit us at http://www.carmaworld.com

Katrina Kaif – The Style Diva

 

 

 

Hi there!

 

A whiff of fresh air! A camera’s delight! A gorgeous beauty!

Katrina Kaif is all this and more. This gorgeous beauty has won the hearts of fans all over the world and is on her way to be the uncrowned queen of Bollywood.

 

This part Indian girl started out as a model and reigned supreme on the ramp before turning her sights to the world of Bollywood. After an extremely forgettable debut, she has gone on to give blockbuster hits one after the other.

 

The lethal combination of spectacular beauty, alluring sensuality and a great sense of style has made her stand first in the reckoning for the Style Diva. She tweaks the latest fashion trends to suit her own personal style sensibilities. Whether it is simple or glamorous, traditional or contemporary, she can carry it off with pizzazz and aplomb.

She is definitely the style inspiration for millions of women today.

 

So, here’s to Katrina Kaif – Hail Style Diva!!

 

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