Traditional Bracelet "PAHUNCHI"of Uttrakhand women
1. Uttarakhand
Pahunchi (पोंछी)
By – Neha Kestwal
Subject - Language of Fashion
Roll no - MDS/14/33
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3. Historic Revelation
• Visible on ancient terracotta images from the Shunga Period in Bengal.
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4. Variations
Rajasthan, early 19th Century
Private Collection
North India;
late 19th Century
Pahunchi; Clusters of pearls hung
On thread or silk
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Uttrakhand
5. Uttarakhand Pahunchi
Front View
Back View
• Anatomy
•Cultural Signification
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6. 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.
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Uttrakhand
7. 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.
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8. 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
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