04/13/2023 Pahunchi - Traditional Ornament of Uttrakhand

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Uttarakhand Pahunchi (पों�छी�)

By – Neha KestwalSubject - Language of FashionRoll no - MDS/14/33

04/13/2023 Pahunchi - Traditional Ornament of Uttrakhand

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“मु�ई दे�ण बा� लो� का�नू� का� लो�बा� मु�ई दे�ण बा� लो� हा�थूं�� का� पों�छी� मु�ई दे�ण बा� लो� नू�का नूथूं�लो� मु�ई दे�ण बा� लो� लो��बा� बिबासा�र मु�ई दे�ण बा� लो� शी�शीफू� लो सा�हा�ग मु�ई दे�ण बा� लो� जे�वरूं�  का� खा�ण “

04/13/2023 Pahunchi - Traditional Ornament of Uttrakhand

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Historic Revelation

• Visible on ancient terracotta images from the Shunga Period in Bengal.

04/13/2023 Pahunchi - Traditional Ornament of Uttrakhand

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Variations

Rajasthan, early 19th CenturyPrivate Collection

North India;late 19th Century

Pahunchi; Clusters of pearls hung On thread or silk

Gujranwala; Punjab

04/13/2023 Pahunchi - Traditional Ornament of Uttrakhand

Uttarakhand Pahunchi

Front View

Back View

• Anatomy

•Cultural Signification

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04/13/2023 Pahunchi - Traditional Ornament of Uttrakhand

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Uttrakhand Pahunchi Anatomy

• Made in 20gms to 50gms gold (2-5 tola). • Three to Five strands of hollow finely worked gold beads filled with lac (wax) are strung together.• Zari is used to tie the strands together.•Beads are conch shell shaped.• Red color Shaneel fabric is used in base onto which beads are tugged.

04/13/2023 Pahunchi - Traditional Ornament of Uttrakhand

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Cultural Significance• Pahunchi is Inspired from Rajasthan Bracelet. As Uttrakhand people are considered migrated from there during Mughal period.• This jewelry is a symbol of married women.• In olden times women here always used to wear jewelry whether going to jungle for timber or doing household chores. So to make jewelry comfortable to wear saneel fabric was used.• Now, use of saneel has become inevitable part. And this differentiate Uttrakhand pahunchi from other states.• Red color (signifies: marital status) in Saneel fabric symbolizes : purity and veracity.• Till date no modification is seen in the jewelry.• Previously pahunchi was of silver (Respondent view : as people were not rich enough) now golden Pahunchi is worn by women.• As Pahunchi is tightly worn on ones hand, it is said it helps in maintaining Blood Pressure. (Respondent view).• Size of beads indicates how wealthy a person is. Bigger the beads more wealthy a person is.

04/13/2023 Pahunchi - Traditional Ornament of Uttrakhand

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References• Indian Jwellery; Journal of Indian art vol.xii No.s 95-107; By- Thomas Holbein Hendley• Dance of the peacock; Jwellery tradition of India; By – Usha R Bala Krishnan & Meera Shushil Kumar• http://www.utsavfashion.com/wedding• http://www.indusladies.com/forums/northern-and-central-indian-states/106549-jewellery• Respondent: Jagdeesh Verma (Bhawani Jewelers) – Almora•http://www.merapahadforum.com/culture-of-uttarakhand/ornaments-worn-in-uttarakhand/100/• Respondent : Mrs. Ganeshi Devi (Mother- in-law’s - Sister’s - mother-in-law). Age - 73