Crafts, Culture, Cuisine : Experiences of Life

The Bridal Jewellery of Spiti A traditional Bride of Spiti - photo credit Ajay Banyal   A Spiti woman in the traditional dress and Jewellery - photo credit Ajay Banyal  An innate desire of humans is to look beautiful and that’s why jewellery was invented. Surprisingly, it was not the ‘Homo sapiens ’ but the ‘ Neanderthals ’ who first used jewels to beautify themselves around 130,000 years ago – imagine! Early on jewellery was made of shells, bones and stones but later metals took over with gold and silver becoming the preferred choice.   Did you know that i nitially jewellery was worn more as amulets to ward off evil eyes and to secure garments? As most dresses were wrap around, they required securing. With time, jewels took on an ornamental quality and became immensely treasured. Men were equally enamoured, and jewels adorned both genders the world over in all cultures.   J ewellery is a valuable archaeological source as well, signifying a lot of things— t...

June 2023 June 2022                             June 2018   Shimla, the queen of Hills, is a delight in all seasons– but most of all I love Shimla during summers - (despite the mad rush of tourists; where one starts to feel like a stranger in one’s own city) - mainly for th e beautiful HYDRANGEAS all around – in multiple shades – visible in all old buildings and wherever they can be planted and whoever can plant them - adding to the character and charm of the city and around.                                                              At a Friend's Place in June 2020                                                     ...