Rajasthani Costumes & Jewelry

Rajasthani Costumes & Jewelry are an integral part of the state’s vibrant cultural identity and traditional heritage. In the subject of Rajasthan Art & Culture, these traditional attires and ornaments reflect the region’s rich history, social values, and skilled craftsmanship. The colourful garments and intricately designed jewellery symbolize the lifestyle, status, and artistic excellence of the people of Rajasthan.

Rajasthani Costumes

• The clothing of any region is influenced by its climate, available resources, and culture. The most prominent feature of Rajasthani attire is its ‘colorfulness’ (rang-birangapan).
• That is why it is said:

“Maru thare des mein upjai teen ratan,
Ik dhola dooji marvan teejo kasoomal rang”

Men’s Attire

Women’s Attire

Tribal Attire

Attire	Details
Angocha	Head covering garment tied by Bhil men
Jamsai	Tribal wedding saree with flower-leaf patterns
Nandna / Naandra	Ancient blue printed cloth worn by tribal women
Phadka	Kathodi women’s saree in Marathi style
Potiya / Potya	Garment / safa tied in place of pagdi among tribals
Dhepara	Tight dhoti worn by Bhil men
Khoytu	Langoti (loincloth) worn by Bhil men
Sinduri	Red saree worn by Bhils for marriage
Piriya	Yellow lehenga of Bhil bride
Kachabu	Knee-length ghaghra worn by Bhil women
Lugda (Angocha Saree)	White background with red dots/bindi patterns
Reja	Garment worn by married Sahariya women
Rensai	Printed lehenga (black background with red-brown dots)
Khusni	Tight pajama worn by Kanjar women

Rajasthani Jewelry

Literal meaning of jewelry – Ornament, adornment. These ornaments are used to make the body beautiful and attractive.

History

• Since ancient times, people in Rajasthan have been lovers of beauty.
• Women of the Kalibangan and Ahar civilizations wore ornaments made of clay beads and shiny stones.
• In the Shunga period, women used clay ornaments. At that time, ornaments made of ivory were also used.
• Gradually, with the passage of time, changes came in ornaments and currently ornaments made of metals like gold, silver, copper etc. are in vogue.

Women’s Jewelry

Head Ornaments

Ornament	Details
Chudaman	Ornament known as Sheeshphool
Tika, Tikda	Ornament worn on women’s head
Tidi Bhalakau	Special ornament for women’s forehead (lalata / bhaal)
Phoolgoodhar	Special silver (rajat / chandi) ornament woven on the head (sir)
Gophan	Ornament woven into women’s braided hair (veni / choti)
Bor, Borla	Round-shaped ornament worn on the head. (The moon-shaped part is called Modiya)
Rakhdi	Symbol of suhag (marital status), head ornament similar to Borla. Considered synonymous with the sun and power. (Gedi, Sari/Nali are related to it)
Mavti	Ornament adorned in the parting (maang) of women’s hair
Sohli, Siwtik	Ornament adorning the forehead (lalata / maathe)
Sheeshphool	Fine gold chain-like ornament worn at the back of the head
Memand	Famous ornament worn on the head by women
Saildau / Seldau	Ornament woven into women’s braided hair (veni / choti)
Tika / Tilak	Ornament in the shape of a flower worn exactly in front of the rakhdi or borla.
Bindi / Tiki	Traditional mark applied on the forehead (lalata) by married women (suhagin striyan).
Other Head Ornaments	Kachar, Rakhdi, Sarkayaro, Saankli, Tavita, Sinagar Patti, Suwal Lakau, Maang Tika, Maang Phool, Main, Modiyau, Mor Meendali, Gedi, Tilak Mani, Khecha Devad etc.

• In Veli Krishna Rukmini Ri, Prithviraj Rathore mentioned the tilak hanging on the maang while describing Rukmini’s shringar (adornment).
• Lalatika – Mentioned in Panini’s sutras
• In Ajmer Museum, clay yakshini statues from Nagari show tied bor (borla), sheeshphool, and patri ornaments, along with totia (ear ornaments)
• In Harshacharita, mention of golden plates used to tie kings’ hair, called balapash
• Eye ornament – Badli

Ornament	Details
Erangpatto	Women’s ear ornament, also called ‘Jhumrawali Totiya’
Oagniya	Ornament worn on the upper part of the ears. Its shape resembles a betel leaf (paan) or peepal leaf
Kheentli	Traditional ornament worn in women’s ears
Jhumki	Ornament made of gold or silver with small bells (ghunghru) attached at the bottom
Karnphool	Flower-shaped (pushpakar) ornament worn on the lower part of the ear, often studded with gems
Laung	Ornament made of gold or silver wire in the shape of a clove (laung spice), with a knob-shaped gem on top
Moruvar	Beautiful ornament shaped like a peacock (mor), hung from the ear
Toti	Round disc-like ornament with a stem at the back to wear in the ear
Jhuntanau	Specific ear ornament for women
Chhailkadi	Special type of chain or ornament worn in the ear
Other Ear Ornaments	Jhelo, Kudkali, Kokarun, Gurdao, Chhailkadi, Jhaal, Jhuntanau, Jhuman / Jhumhar / Jhumka, Thoriyau, Dargaliyau / Dugurli, Tadkali, Pattisuraliya, Pasau, Peepalpaan, Bala, Boojhli, Makdi, Latkan, Vedlau, Sandol, Surgawali, Suraliyau, Jamela, Bhachuriya, Murki, Murkiya, Madikadkam (men’s ear ornament)

Nose Ornaments (Naak ke Abhushan)

Teeth Ornaments

Neck Ornaments

Arm Ornaments

Hand / Wrist Ornaments

Finger Ornaments

Ornament	Details
Binti / Mundad	Circular ring or ring worn on fingers.
Jhota	A special thick ring with three loops (circles).
Patta Binti	Silver ring given to the bride by the groom’s side before engagement or marriage ceremony.
Pavitri	Ring made from a mixture of copper and silver, considered auspicious from a religious perspective.
Anguthalau	Ornament specifically worn on the thumb.
Arsi	A large ring worn on the thumb, often with a mirror embedded.
Mursi	A traditional ornament worn on fingers
Others	Damana [Chain in the middle two fingers], Hathpan [In ring and index fingers] / Hathphool [In all five fingers]/Khaddavano

Waist Ornaments

Foot Ornaments

Ornament	Details
Jhanjhar	Anklet-like ornament, famous for its sweet tinkling sound (runjhun ki madhur awaaz)
Makiyau	Traditional ornament worn on the feet by women
Newri	Anklet-like ornament, often worn along with aamla
Payal / Payjeb	Also known as Ramjhol or Shakuntala
Tankaa / Tanko	Round silver ornament that produces a ‘tank-tank’ sound while walking
Lachau	Special foot ornament made of fine silver wires
Rol	Anklet with bells (ghunghru-dar) worn on the feet
Other Foot Ornaments	Newar, Peejanni, Payal, Paadsakalika, Teghad, Taanti, Jhanjhar, Sinjni, Kankani, Payal, Shankutala, Payjeb (Ramjhol), Newri, Nupur, Painkoomjaniya, Tankaa, Ghunghru, Aamla, Kada, Langar, Jhanjhar, Toda-Chhoda, Anotpol, Kadlau, Jhankartan, Tankau, Todrau, Todau, Todasat, Makiyau, Masuriyau, Rol, Lachau, Heera Naami, Hirnaamain, Teghad etc.

Foot Ornaments

Ornament	Details
Jhanjhar	An anklet-like ornament, which is famous for its sweet jingling sound
Makiyo	A traditional ornament worn by women in the feet
Nevari	An ornament like an anklet, which is often worn with amulets
Payal / Payjeb	It is also known by the name of Ramjhol or Shakuntala
Tanka / Tanko	A circular silver ornament that produces a ‘tank-tank’ sound while walking
Lachho	A special foot ornament made of fine silver wires
Rol	A bell-studded ornament worn in the feet
Others	Nevar, Pijanni, Payal, Padasakalika, Teghad, Taanti, Jhanjhar, Sinjni, Kankani, Payal, Shankutala, Payjeb, (Ramjhol), Nevari, Nupur, Painkoomjaniya, Tanka, Ghungroo, Aawala, Kada, Langar, Jhanjhar, Toda-Chhoda, Anotpol, Kadlo, Jhankartan, Tanko, Todaro, Todo, Todasaat, Makiyo, Masuriyo, Rol, Lachho, Hiranami, Hirnamain, Teghad etc.

Toe Ornaments

Ornament	Details
Bichhiya / Chootki	A symbol of marital status, which is worn by married women on the toe next to the big toe of the foot
Pholri	A ring worn by making a flower shape with fine silver wires
Pagpaan	Pagpaan, similar to hathphool, is worn by joining the rings of the toe and fingers of the foot with a chain and hooking it on the upper part of the foot like an anklet on the occasion of marriage
Nakhliyo	A traditional ornament worn in the toes
Dolikiyo	A specific ornament for the toe
Golya	Broad and plain silver rings which are worn in the feet
Others	Angoothalo, Goothalo, Gaur, Lachhne, Golya, Chhalla, Beechudi, Jod [Jodhpuri Jod, Hawaijahaj ki Jod]

Men’s Ornaments

Ornament	Details
Chood	An ornament worn in the hands in the form of a round bangle. (Others for hands: Moorat, Thala, Taati)
Kalangi	An ornament worn on the safa.
Balevda	An ornament worn around the neck by men. (Others for neck: Chain, Paidal, Mandaliya, Ramnami, Tabeez, Janter, Chauki)
Sehra	A safa/turban worn by the groom at the time of marriage.
Murkiyan	A circular ornament worn by men in the ear. (Others for ear: Loong, Jhale, Baliya, Oganiya, Chhailkadi)
Chauki	An ornament worn around the neck, on which an image of deities is made.
Rakhan or Choomp	This ornament made of gold or silver is worn on the teeth (for both men and women).
Madikadkam	An ear ornament for men.
Mathi	Bangles worn on the wrist of men. (Others for wrist: Kada, Kankana)
Todar	A gold ornament for the feet of men.

Children’s Ornaments

Ornament	Details
Nazariya	An ornament worn around the neck by tying a gold piece, moong bead, and ratanchaṇ in a red cloth, so that ratyavadi (गाँठगूमडे) do not occur.
Jhanjhariya or Painjani	A thin chain worn in the feet of children, in which small bells are attached.
Kado or Kandoolya	Bangles worn in both the hands and feet of children.
Kudak	Gold, silver, or zinc wires worn by piercing the ears of small children; through which later loong or bali is worn.
Kanth/Hansuli	A protective ornament worn around the neck
Murki	Kudak (ear ornament) made of solid gold.

Types of Lac Bangles

Ornament	Details
Padla Chooda	Plain red mutiya chooda (heengal ka chanda / suhag ka chooda). It comes from the in-laws’ side along with bari-padla before the wedding.
Lahariya Chooda	Worn by newly married women in Shravan month. It has diagonal stripes in white, red, blue, and yellow colors.
Chaubanda Chooda	Set of four banded chooda prevalent in Kota-Bundi region.
Panchbanda Chooda	Set of five banded chooda prevalent in Bhilwara, Ajmer, and Jodhpur.
Teen Lada	Chooda specially worn by women of the Gurjar community.
Paat ka Chooda	Silver paat chooda (barpoi) worn by tribal women in Udaipur region during marriage.
Vanya Chooda	Chooda worn by unmarried girls in Udaipur region.
Kateer ka Chooda	A special type of chooda prevalent in Udaipur region.
Dhoopchhaon Kada Set	Set of two thick lac bangles, also called Kranti or Rainbow.
Other Types	Laal Patti Chooda, Jalebi ka Chooda, and Cheer ka Chooda.