What Do We Love About Manipuri Traditional Jewellery?

By Nida Naaz Thu, 3 Feb 2022

Manipur is made from two words ‘mani' and ‘pur'. Mani means ‘gems' while ‘pur’ means ‘place'. Therefore, it is a land of beads and ornaments that adds to the beauty of a person like apparel. The land of Manipur is famous for beautiful ornaments and expensive metals considered as a security of women or “StreeDhan”.

The Manipur traditional jewellery adds an exquisite taste to one's beauty. The land was known as a state of Subarna Bhu to the rest of India for abundance availability in gold.

Use of beads and gems in ornaments

The use of beads is very common among Manipuri jewellery. The beads are passed through threads to prepare garlands, necklaces in different designs and patterns to make a single ornament.

The traditional jewellery of Manipur was studded with different kinds of gems. Chandel and Ukhrul Districts are famous for the basic local gems of the state. Traditionally, people used to buy raw gems from tribes, cult them in their own style and use them in jewellery. In recent times, the same practice is practised by some locals. Gem dealers around the world are getting finished products from Manipur.

The tribal Manipur jewellery is different from others and is prepared by tribes of Manipur. The jewellery hardly contains any metals. Their speciality in jewellery lies in the beaded ornament, ivory armlets and ornaments from seeds or beatles. They also use bamboo or even thick cane membrane with natural vegetable dyes as a part of ornaments such as nose stude, cane thick membrane or the wristlets dyed and decorated with bird feathers.