Indian accessories

Salam everyone. Hope everyone's doing fine. Today i'm going to write on the different types of accessories that are commonly worn by indians. I'm sure most of us have seen the beautiful jewellery worn by the indians especially during weddings, festive seasons or through actresses in Bollywood movies. These accessories are gaining popularity in the world. You can also wear them when there are cultural events in future!

Anklets 
Anklets are traditional Indian jewellery that is worn around the ankle. They are popularly known as "Payal" or "Pajeb" and are worn by kids as well as women of all ages. The Indian anklets are very famous all over the world and are reputed for their beautiful carvings, embellishments, and countless styles.

Armlet Jewellery 
Armlets are traditional forms of jewellery that have become very trendy these days. In ancient times, armlets were worn by both men as well as women with the sole aim of looking beautiful. The armlets were made of crude metal in shapes of creepers, snakes, and crocodiles.

Bangles 
Known as a universal fashion accessory, Bangles are worn by women of any age group irrespective of race, caste, religion, etc. Bangles are considered to be traditional jewellery in India and are known as "Chudi". Typically, a bangle is worn in the arms and it adorns the area between the elbow and the wrist.

Bracelets 
One of the most versatile forms of jewellery is undoubtedly the bracelet. Worn by both men and women, bracelets add grace and charm to any outfit. They make a bold fashion statement and also look traditional with ethnic outfits. Available in a variety of designs, bracelets can be worn for any occasion or even for daily wear. 

Earrings 
One of the most common forms of fashion jewellery that is worn by both men and women are earrings. These ornaments have been worn by mostly women since ancient times. When civilization started all over the world, the concept of self adornment caught and people used animal bones and wood as jewellery. 

Filigree Jewellery 
Indian filigree jewellery is a very unique style of jewellery. Antique filigree work was done many centuries back in India and was popularly known as "Tarkashi". The filigree jewellery is mainly done on silver. There is a lot of technicality and precision involved in filigree work.

Finger Rings 
Finger rings have always remained a favorite when it comes to selecting jewellery. Whether as a fashion accessory or traditional jewellery, finger rings have always fascinated both men and women alike. Known as "Angoothi" in India, these finger rings are available in a huge variety of designs and styles.

Jadau Work 
The traditional art of the Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, the engraved jewellery is a very unique jewellery style. Also known by the names of "Jadau" and "Jadtar", this form of jewellery was introduced in India by the Mughals. The craftsmen of India picked up this art and made it popular and famous.

Kundan Jewellery 
Kundan jewellery is a traditional jewellery that is exclusive to India. Available in different colors and designs, Indian Kundan jewellery is fast catching up as one of the trendiest ornaments. The gold used in making Kundan jewellery is of a very refined quality.

Mangalsutra 
A very integral part of the Indian weddings, particularly Hindu marriages, Mangalsutra is a jewellery that symbolizes a married woman. Tying of the Mangalsutra by the groom is the most important ritual in a marriage and is known as "Mangalya Dharanam".

Meenakari 
Meenakari jewellery is a very famous form of jewellery in India. Preferred by numerous Indian families as traditional jewellery, Meenakari is very different from other types of jewellery. The art of Meena work came to India with the arrival of the Mughals. 

Nose Rings 
Nose rings are another form of jewellery that is quite popular in Indian tradition. Though they are popular here, their origin was in the Middle East. In India, the trend of wearing nose rings as jewellery came with the arrival of the Mughals. Nose rings and nose pins are popularly known as "Nath" in India and are also known by other names such as Nathni, Koka and Laung. 

Pendants 
An elegant yet simple piece of jewellery is definitely the pendant. Also gaining momentum as a fashion jewellery and accessory, pendants can be worn with a simple thin chain, a necklace or even earrings and watches. Indian pendants come in a variety of styles and designs. 

Toe Rings 
Toe rings are traditional Indian jewellery that is worn in the toes by Indian women. Though usually married women wear toe rings, these days even young girls who are unmarried wear toe rings as fashion accessories. Popularly known as "Bichua", toe rings come in a variety of designs and styles. 

Waistband Jewelry 
One of the most unique jewellery in India is the waistband. Popularly known by the names of "Kamarband" or "Tagdi", the Indian waistband is a beautiful piece of ornament that is worn around the waist and it rests delicately just below the waistline.

source:               http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-jewelry/types-of-jewelry/index.html

Intresting Facts about Pakistan

2nd largest Muslim city in the world

The name Pakistan is derived from the Urdu words Pak (meaning pure) and stan (meaning country).

It has the 7th largest collection of scientists and engineers in the world.


When couples get married in Pakistan the bridegroom wears garlands of money given by his relatives.


80% of the worlds soccer balls are made in Pakistan


Pakistan’s national sport is hockey


It had the first woman leader of a Muslim country in history


World's 7th nuclear power


Sixth largest military force in the world.


More than 60 languages are spoken in Pakistan


Thar dessert one of the largest deserts in the world.


K2 is situated in Pakistan which is the 2nd highest mountain peak in the world.

Interesting Facts About India

• About 80% of Indians are Hindu. Muslims are the largest minority in India and form approximately 13% of the country’s population. In fact, India has the third largest population of Muslims in the world, after Indonesia and Pakistan.
  
• India is about 1/3 the size of the United States, yet it is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of 1,166,079,217. India is the seventh largest country in the world, at 1.27 million square miles.
  
• India is the largest democracy in the world.
  
• To avoid polluting the elements (fire, earth, water, air), followers of Zoroastrianism in India don’t bury their dead, but instead leave bodies in buildings called “Towers of Silence” for the vultures to pick clean. After the bones dry, they are swept into a central well.
  
• India has one of the world’s highest rates of abortion
  
• Cows can be found freely wandering the streets of India’s cities. They are considered sacred and will often wear a tilak, a Hindu symbol of good fortune. Cows are considered one of humankind’s seven mothers because they offer milk as does one’s natural mother.
  
• Dancing is one of India’s most highly developed arts and was an integral part of worship in the inner shrines of every temple. It is notable for its expressive hand movements
  
• India is the birthplace of chess.l The original word for “chess” is the Sanskrit chaturanga, meaning “four members of an army”—which were mostly likely elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers.
• The four religions born in India - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population.
  
• Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.

HINDU'S FUNERAL TRADITION

Salaam.

Hi again everyone. Today we are going to share about Hindu’s funeral tradition. Around 86% of Indians in Malaysia are Hindus. We hope this post will be beneficial for readers to help you understand more about our countrymen.

It is believed in Hinduism as per the Hindu Holy Scripture like the Bhagwat Gita, that the person who has just passed on is on his way to the other level of existence.  Hindus observe many death rites and rituals to help the souls crossover peacefully

One such Hindu death ceremony is the Teravih. It is a period of mourning observed by Indian people, starting from the day of the death of a particular person, whether male, female or children, to the 13th day after his /her funeral. During teravih death ritual, there are many rules that the family members of the deceased have to observe. For example, they are not supposed to attend religious functions, eat certain foods such as sweets, wear new clothes or participate in any cultural activity or festivity.

The basic idea behind the Indians' following all these funeral traditions is to show reverence to the deceased person. Normally during this time, all the family members share each other’s sorrow and pray, so that the soul of the deceased person rests peacefully. Though it's basically during teravih that the death rites are strictly observed, but traditionally, the death rites in Hindu religion extend up to a year. 

At the end of one year, all elderly members of the deceased person gather once again for the Shraad ceremony. The 3rd, 5th, 7th or 9th day after the death of the person are also important, as all relatives gather to have a meal of the deceased's favorite foods. A small amount of the food is offered before his /her photo and later, it is ceremonially left at an abandoned place, along with a lit diya. However, there may be slight variations in the way people of different religious sect observe this death rite.

Till next time lovelies!

Pakistani Food

I went to Mahallah Ruqayyah for my dinner, being indecisive about what i want to eat. Then, i remember my friend once suggest me to try a Pakistani food named - Chicken Karahi. So, i tried it together with Naan bread, and it was sooo delicious!

Since we are doing research about Pakistani, i think it is good if i share about this food. Chicken Karahi means chicken that is being cooked in a wok (karahi). Well, actually 'karahi' is not similar to wok because it has a flat bottom while wok does not. Karahi is rather a Pakistani word, but i cannot find the exact word to translate it rather than - a kind of wok that Pakistani use.

Let's fly to Lahore, Pakistan, where 'karahi' is well-known. In Lahore, you can also see there are many shops selling this steel 'wok'. If you go to Lahore, you must go to Food Street. Sound tempting right? there is a lot of foods there, but you can see the thick atmosphere that has been covered by steam of dishes in karahis, kebabs and charcoal grill. I read somewhere that, people who get to Lahore will have a memory of eating sumptuous chicken karahi there, and they called it as - Lahore's Star Culinary Attraction!

Traditionally, 'karahi' is made up of cast iron to provide a non-stick surface. The 'karahi' is a deep cooking pot that makes it suitable for deep frying and stews. Stews that are made using 'karahi' will be named after it, for example chicken karahi and lamb karahi. Most of the time, they use 'karahi' to cook supper meal. interestingly, the back of 'karahi' can be used to cook Rumali Roti - a type of bread that is famous in Mughlai cuisine.

Enough about the utensil, now i want to explain more about the dish. Chicken Karahi is often served by Naan bread. Pakistani may also eat it with chapati or basmathi rice. Other than chicken, the ingredients are garlic, ginger, coriander, cilantro, chilies, tomatoes, and turmeric. And certainly, it must be cooked in karahi. In Food Street Lahore, it will be served hot and normally people will directly eat it from the stall.

Chicken Karahi and it's 'karahi'

Food Street, Lahore Pakistan

THE STUNNING COSTUMES OF INDIANS

INDIA – very well-known for its hand-woven textiles, richly embroidered fabrics, authentic drapes in exclusive designs have been prized by western civilization for centuries. Indian men and women have always loved to dress up in their traditional costumes, attires and accessories during festivals and other occasions which are an integral part of Indian life. Recently, Indian costumes have been successful in attracting the attention of and capturing the global market.

Women’s costumes:

1. The Sari

The sari is the traditional garment of an Indian woman. It is an unstitched piece of cloth, which varies from five to nine yards in length and can be worn in different styles. A sari is worn over a petticoat and a short-sleeved midriff-baring blouse. The most popular style of wearing a sari is by tucking one end into the petticoat at the waist while a major portion of it is pleated neatly and tucked in the front. The rest of the sari, which is known as the pallu or pallav is taken over the left shoulder. The pallu is the most fascinating and striking feature of a sari, it is often heavily embellished with woven motifs or embroidery.

There are different styles in wearing or draping a sari. Some women prefer the style of Bengali; they drape the sari around the body without pleats and the pallu is left loose by hanging over the left shoulder. According to my Indian friends, this is the simplest style and it gives comfort to those who wear it.

Bengali style

There are also women who prefer Gujarati; they wear a sari with a neatly pleated pallu brought in front over the right shoulder with one end tucked around the waist to the left.

Gujarati style

Other than Bengali and Gujarawati, Maharashtrian is also one of the style of draping a sari. It is a traditional style that  is very similar to the men’s dhoti. The pleats of the sari are placed between the legs and tucked in the centre back.

Maharashtrian style

Apart from that, there is also Madrasi-  This style is very similar to the Maharashtrian nawwadi or the nine-yard sari. The pallu is quite long and wrapped around the waist and tucked in.

Madrasi style

2. Salwar Kameez

It is the outfit that is commonly worn by Indian women and is second in line after the sari. The outfit is probably born out of Islamic influence especially that of Arabic and Persian cultures. Women all over the country prefer to wear this dress mainly because of the comfort and ease of movement that it offers. 

A salwar is a pair of loose pyjamas held together with a drawstring around the waist. It also comes in another version – very tight and narrow at the bottom with numerous extra folds gathered at the ankles. This is popularly known as a churidar. In Punjab, the women wear a patiala salwar which falls around the legs in innumerable pleats resembling a dhoti. A kameez is a long shirt, either loose or tight-fitting and comes in a straight or A-line shape. It is slit along the sides to allow freedom of movement. A salwar kameez is incomplete without a dupatta, which is a long piece of cloth to cover the bosom, but mostly used like a scarf.

3. Ghaghra / Lehenga Choli

A ghagra or a lehenga is a long gathered gypsy skirt with dazzling embroidery or mirror work and comes in vibrant colours. It is worn with a choli, which is a short closely fitted woman’s blouse that shows off the midriff, or a kurti (shorter version of a kurta). Some cholis can be fastened at the back by means of narrow strips of cloth or chords. An odhni or a dupatta (scarf) with intricate designs complements the outfit. Women in Rajasthan and Gujarat don this beautiful and highly sensuous outfit. Dressier versions are teamed with chunky silver jewellery during festivals and other important occasions.

Men’s costumes:

Some traditional costumes of Indian men are:

1. Dhoti: 

This remains the most traditional garment of the Indian male. It is a 6 yard-long rectangular piece of unstitched white cloth, which is wrapped around the waist and between the legs. The dhoti is ideal for the torrid summer of India. Its usage can be traced back to ancient times. Though western outfits have replaced the dhoti over the years, yet it remains the chosen one for Indian festivals and weddings. 

A dhoti can be worn in a variety of ways and have different names according to the style. For example, it is called a dhuti in Bengali, veshti in Tamil and pancha in Telugu. A dhoti is usually complemented with a kurta on top but in southern parts of India, it is worn mostly with a shirt. An angavastram or an unstitched piece of cloth is placed over the left shoulder in this case. A South Indian dhoti is worn like a lungi and often has a broad zari border. A common sight in South India is that of men folding the dhoti up to the knees for the purpose of comfort, during work.

2. Lungi 

This is a piece of cloth sewn in a circle and worn around the waist like a sarong. Besides India, lungis are popular in several communities across Asia, such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The most common patterns of lungis are plain, checks or stripes. It is considered to be a very comfortable garment among males in regions where conditions make it impossible and uncomfortable for the men to wear trousers all the time.

In Punjab, a lungi is also called a tehmat, which is made of extravagant silks in an endless variety of hues and shades. It is draped in a manner where the pleats fall in the front. Punjabi men wear this with a long kurta and an embroidered jacket and of course, a colourful pagdi (turban).

That's all for Indian costumes. They are so attractive, right? 

Till we meet again. Thank you for reading!

Ref: hinduonline.com