Welcome on the discovery of Indian Jewelry. India brings to mind an image of a colorful land with brightly dressed women bedecked in intricate and heavy jewelry. Where does the intense infatuation for jewellery in India originate? The answer lies in the journey of jewelry from early times to our own. Ancient India was a land of abundant gold, ivory and precious metals and valuable gems. So jewellery has played a major role in the cultural ethos of this country. Hence we find a vast variety of exquisite styles and intricate designs, specific to every region of India. Jewelry and gems thus continue to exercise a mesmerizing effect on the Indian psyche.

Sources

The journey of Indian jewelry from ancient times to modern day can be pieced together from:

1. Archeological excavations of Mohenjo-daro, Harappa sites, dating back thousands of years.

2. Hymns of the Vedas

3. The great epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabarata.

4. The works of great Sanskrit scholars.

The wearing of jewellery by the Indian women can be understood in its right perspective when the role played by it is highlighted. Jewelry has been used in India for various reasons.

1. For personal adornment

2. As an investment for future financial needs

3. To preserve a versatile and vibrant craft.

4. To safeguard against the ill effects of heavenly bodies.

Despite some variations in form, material used and some names, designs that were in style in ancient times are very much in vogue in Modern India.