Wednesday, November 28, 2007

The Beliefs And Superstitions Of Indian Jewelry

Jewelry has been part of the lives of human beings since the very beginning and every piece of jewelry has almost always carried a symbol or meaning. In the ancient civilizations Greeks, Egyptians, Indians and Chinese wore jewelry as a status symbol and ranking in the society.

There were strict rules and regulations that one needed to follow when wearing jewelry and by which one could tell their class, status and wealth. Let us see how much of that has changed today in the Indian jewelry world and what are the meanings behind each intricate, stunning design.

The Beliefs And Superstitions Of Indian Jewelry

India is a country of mystique and unimaginable beauty; almost everything you do or wear there has a special meaning of its own. Gemstones were always believed to have supernatural powers and were carefully placed in jewelry that was worn by kings and queens.

Today, Indian jewelry has not changed much; it still carries the mystique, beauty and every bit of its intricate work as well as beliefs. It is safe to say that almost every single type of Indian jewelry has a meaning behind it and it still display a status symbol even if the class and wealth is not taken in consideration anymore.

Most of the Indian jewelry is made out of yellow 18K or 22K gold as, anything below is not considered good enough to make jewelry for wearing purposes. Married women still wear gold and black beaded necklace known as ‘mangalsutra’ and it symbolizes their married status; men however don’t have any traditional jewelry to wear to display their married status.

Other Symbols and Meanings of Indian Jewelry

Because India is a rich country in gemstones and precious metal there is specific Indian jewelry made to enhance their traditional dances and dramas such as, Bharat Natyam. Different parts of India have specific type of jewelry through which one will be able to be identified such as; Cuttack in the state of Orissa produces the best silver filigree work in the country, which in fact is also world renown.

Indian Jewelry Today

Both men today wear Indian jewelry and women with the same passion their ancestors wore it. Bangles are a must for women especially those who are married; usually gold bangles will be accompanied by at least a dozen of different types and colors of glass bangles that are normally changed as desired to match the color of the clothes one is wearing. Indian jewelry has a special mystique and style due to which it has become very popular with the top jewelry designers and people around the world.


by Ann Marier
Ann Marier has written many articles on family life and different health questions. Her latest articles explore the different types of sterling silver jewelry readily available today.


Technorati tags: , , , , , , ,

Herb Gardening

Herbs have been around since time immemorial. Ever since, herbs have served different kinds of purposes. Herbs have been used to treat illness and also in cooking. They were even believed to have magical charms. Do you want to have your own herb garden? Here are a few ideas on how to establish an herb garden.

Plan your garden.

Consider the herbs you want to plant. Think about their types. Would you like annuals, biennials or perennials?

How much space will they occupy in your garden? If you want, you can purchase a book that can give you the right information on what specific plants you are planning to grow.

List or draw your garden on paper first. Separate the annuals from the perennials so when the time comes that you have to pull out the annuals, you won't be disturbing the perennials. Perennials can be planted on the edge of your garden so when it is time to till your garden; you won't have a hard time.

Another thing to remember is that you have to plant the tall ones at the back and the shorter ones in front. Also, provide your plants with enough space to grow. Proper position shall help you in this area.

Some Design Ideas

You can consider having a square herb bed. You can have your square bed divided into four by two paths crossing at mid point measuring 3 feet. You can border it with stone or brick. A wooden ladder may also do the trick. You can lay it down on your garden and plant your herbs between its rungs. You can also choose to have a wagon wheel bed. Planting here is like planting with the wooden ladders. Plant your herbs in between the wagon wheel's wedges.

Get Your Plants Growing

Of course, different plants have different needs. This is the reason why you have to determine the herbs you want to plant in the planning stage. This can more or less help you find out how you should care for your plants. With starting seeds, remember its germination and soil temperature rules. If you see the seedlings sprouting, check the plants' air circulation, humidity and sunlight. When you see some leaves appear, allow proper spacing.

One of the plants that are easy to grow are herbs. You just have to provide them with an effective drainage, sunlight, enough humidity or moisture and fertile soil. Even with just minimally meeting these requirements they will be bound produce a good harvest.

by George Hapgood
You too can have a green thumb.
Visit George's blog here:
http://www.push-button-online-income.com/gardening