View source for Chura (bangles)

{{Short description|Bride's adornment traditional in India}}
{{redirect|Chudi|出帝|Emperor Chu (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Bharat Takhtani, Esha Deol at Esha Deol's wedding at ISCKON temple 02.jpg|thumb|[[Esha Deol]] wearing ''chura'' at her wedding]]
'''''Chura''''' (in [[Hindustani language|Hindi-Urdu]]), '''''chuda''''', or '''''chudlo'''''<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Gujarat (India) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jkVuAAAAMAAJ&q=Chudlo |title=Gazetteers: Bhavnagar District |date=1969 |publisher=Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications |language=en}}</ref> (in [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]) is a set of [[bangle]]s traditionally worn by a bride on her wedding day and for a period after, especially in [[Indian wedding clothes|Indian weddings]].

==Materials and appearance==
The ''chura'' is usually red and white; sometimes the red bangles are replaced with another colour, but they are usually only two colours.  They are traditionally made of ivory,<ref name="Oldenburg2002">{{cite book|author=Veena Talwar Oldenburg|title=Dowry Murder: The Imperial Origins of a Cultural Crime|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BSjVgCpc5p4C&pg=PA91|year=2002|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-515072-8|page=91}}</ref> with inlay work, though now made with plastic.<ref name="RatraKaur2006">{{cite book|author1=Amiteshwar Ratra|author2=Praveen Kaur|author3=Sudha Chhikara|title=Marriage And Family : In Diverse And Changing Scenario|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XV5iBV_pYm0C&pg=PA500|date=1 January 2006|publisher=Deep & Deep Publications|isbn=978-81-7629-758-5|pages=500–}}</ref> Traditionally there are 21 bangles,<ref name="Mathews2017">{{cite book|author=Mathew Mathews|title=Singapore Ethnic Mosaic, The: Many Cultures, One People|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y4RIDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA317|year=2017|publisher=World Scientific Publishing Company|isbn=978-981-323-475-8|page=317}}</ref> although more recently the bride often wears 7, 9 or 11 bangles.<ref name="Singh2005">{{cite book|author=Mina Singh|title=Ceremony of the Sikh wedding|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CIDXAAAAMAAJ|year=2005|publisher=Rupa & Co.|page=38|isbn=9788129106339 }}</ref> The bangles range in size according to the circumference of the top of the forearm and the wrist end so that the set fits neatly.

== Gujarati chudlo ==
In [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] tradition, the bridal bangles are referred to as ''chudlo'' ({{lang|gu|ચૂડલો}}).<ref name=":0" /> Traditionally they were made using elephant's tusks/ivory and were known as "''haathi daant no chudlo"''. These bangles are gifted to the bride by her maternal uncle.

''Chudlo'' is generally paired with Gujarati bridal [[sari]] known as ''Panetar''. These ''chudlo'' bangles are generally red and green in colour to match the ''Panetar'' sari. ''Chudlo'' has great significance in [[Gujarati culture]] as is evident several folk songs like "Chudlo Lyado Ji [[Mirabai|Meera Bai]] Pehar Lyo" and "[[Radha]] Chudlo Perje Mara Naam Nu".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Manorma |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GzbaAAAAMAAJ&q=Chudlo |title=Folk India: A Comprehenseive Study of Indian Folk Music and Culture |date=2004 |publisher=Sundeep Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7574-135-5 |language=en}}</ref>

== Marathi Hirva chuda ==
''Hirva chuda'', peacock green-coloured ''chuda'' bangles are preferably worn by [[Marathi people|Marathi]] brides. The green is the colour of fertility and is associated with [[Devi]] ([[Hinduism|Hindu]] Goddess). In the ''Devi'' shrines of [[Tulja Bhavani Temple|Tuljabhavani]] and ''Renukadevi,'' the Goddesses are adorned using ''Hirva chuda.'' The [[Marathi culture|Marathi tradition]] of ''Hirva chuda'' during marriage is akin to wearing green bangles during [[Haryali Teej|Hariyali Teej]] in [[North India]]. Sometimes, green bangles are also paired with red bangles. The hirva chuda (green bangles) are worn after the [[Haldi (ceremony)|haldi]] oil bath, given by a ''suvasini'' and are worn for a year.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Glk6AQAAIAAJ&q=Hirva+Chuda |title=The Illustrated Weekly of India |date=July 1970 |publisher=Published for the proprietors, Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press |language=en}}</ref>

== Nepali chura ==
A Nepali ''chura'' set is usually made of red-coloured gilded bangles. ''Chura'' bangles are often paired with pote (beaded necklace).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shrestha |first=Bimala |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=40huAAAAMAAJ&q=Nepali+chura+pote |title=Social Life in Nepal, 1885-1950 |date=1997 |publisher=Vani Prakashan Co-operative Limited |language=en}}</ref> ''Chura'' bangle sets are also worn during ''Teej'' celebrations as is evident from Nepali ''Teej'' songs like "Chura Tika Laali".

== Bengali and Odia Shakha Pola chura ==
In [[Odia people|Odia]] & [[Bengalis|Bengali]] marriages, brides wear red and white set of bangles which are made from sea shell (''shankh'') and red coral (''pola''). Thus, Shakha are white bangles made through conch-shell and Pola are red bangles made by red corals. ''Loha'', a large iron bangle covered with gold is also worn along with ''Shakha Pola chura''.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Arvind |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dyIQYdGideMC&dq=shakha+pola&pg=PA98 |title=The Annual Review of Women in World Religions: Volume VI |last2=Young |first2=Katherine K. |date=2001-11-01 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-7914-5426-8 |language=en}}</ref>

The beauty of Pola Bangles lies in the symbolism and artistic patterns used to adorn it, besides the appealing color combination used in them. While numerous motifs and patterns are found in the bangles, the lotus symbol is the one most frequently used to adorn it making the chura to not only carry the philosophical meaning but a spiritual one too.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oak Lores - Beautiful Products with the hint of culture |url=https://oaklores.com/2025/01/10/bangles-of-tradition-the-historical-legacy-of-shakha-pola/#:~:text=Shakha%20Pola%20bangles%20often,rise%20above%20difficult%20circumstances. |access-date=2025-04-02 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Assamese Muthi Kharu chura ==
The ''Muthi Kharu'' is a traditional and ethnic bangle worn in marriages by the bride also while celebrating [[Bihu]] festival in [[Assam]] extensively. It has a golden layer and silver in some parts making it more attractive.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sarma |first=Ashok |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_jzXAAAAMAAJ&q=Muthi+Kharu+marriage |title=Folk Culture of the Misings of Assam: Tradition and Change |date=2004 |publisher=Decent Books |isbn=978-81-86921-27-2 |language=en}}</ref>

== Sindhi chura ==
Sindhi traditional churas were made of ivory and seashells, but today it is made of plastic of different colours like red, blue, green, orange etc are also used unlike traditionally it was only of white colour. Ivory was used to make many jewelries, the [[Banbhore|Bhambhore]] city had the biggest ivory workshop in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-20 |title=Archaeologists discover huge ivory factory in Pakistan's ancient Bhanbhore city |url=https://arab.news/crh2h |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Arab News PK |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=RBSI - Shells, shell bangles and ivory from excavations. Brahmanabad and Depar Gangro, Hyderabad District. - 1896 Photograph of miscellaneous shells, shell bangles and ivory from excavations at Brahmanabad |url=https://rarebooksocietyofindia.org/postDetail.php?id=196174216674_10151043730386675 |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=rarebooksocietyofindia.org |language=en}}</ref>

In Sindh the traditional churas were rings of ivory covering the fore arms or full arms,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Magedin |first=Shireen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zHBuEAAAQBAJ&dq=sindhi+tribes&pg=PT9 |title=Lifelines |date=2022-05-07 |language=en |quote=In many Sindhi tribes married women had to wear ivory-coloured bangles that covered their arms? Your great grandmother used to wear them. She told me that an ideal set would have included seventeen bangles worn on the upper arm and nine on the lower arm; a total of fifty-two bangles on each arm." My great grandmother? I listened with interest.}}</ref> these were worn by all sects, religions and classes but unlike other parts of India these were not worn as wedding symbol, as unmarried women would also wear Churas, perhaps only till forearms.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Burton |first1=Richard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gO6pPmYjF5MC&q=Ivory |title=Sindh and the Races that Inhabit the Valley of the Indus: With Notices of the Topography and History of [the] Province |last2=Burton |first2=Sir Richard Francis |date=1992 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0758-3 |pages=302 |language=en |quote=Sindhi women are fond of wearing a multitude of ornaments; they are not, however, so profuse in their decorations as the natives of India, who will rather wear bangles of glass and gum than leave the wrist bare. In Sindh these bangles are unknown to the people. Their chief peculiarity is the fondness for large rings of ivory covering the fore arm; these are worn by all sects and classes.}}</ref>

There are three different styles/types of such churas worn in Sindh first are Sindhi style, Dhatki style and Marwari style. The traditional churas have been completely abandoned by many Sindhi women of Sindh today and have adopted wearing the red coloured churas made of glass worn usually by bride only on the wedding ceremony, for others glass bangles or silver or gold Kangar/Kara (bracelets) are worn. But many women of [[Tharparkar|Thar]] still continue to wear the ancient Sindhi churas.

==Customary use==
Wearing the ''chura'' is primarily an [[Indian Hindu]] tradition which is also followed by other Indian religious communities culturally. [[Sindhoor]] and [[Mangalsutra]]{{mdash}} are other adornments worn by married women. The custom is widely observed in [[Jammu division|Jammu]], [[Himachal Pradesh|Himachal]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=affair |first=Wedding |date=2023-01-19 |title=The Himachali Wedding |url=https://weddingaffair.co.in/the-himachali-wedding/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Wedding Affair |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Punjab]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Haryana]], [[Gujarat]], [[Rajasthan]]<ref>{{cite book|author=Pravina Shukla|title=The Grace of Four Moons: Dress, Adornment, and the Art of the Body in Modern India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MlObCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA257|year=2015|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-02121-2|page=431}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Taknet |first1=D. K. |author-link=D. K. Taknet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5tCeDAAAQBAJ&dq=Chuda+bangles+rajasthani&pg=PT169 |title=Jaipur: Gem of India |last2=IntegralDMS |date=2016-07-07 |publisher=IntegralDMS |isbn=978-1-942322-05-4 |language=en}}</ref> and [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name="SinghIndia2005">{{cite book|author1=Kumar Suresh Singh|author2=Anthropological Survey of India|title=People of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tBMwAQAAIAAJ|year=2005|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|isbn=978-81-7304-114-3|page=1127}}</ref><ref name="Mathews2017" /> The ''chura'' ceremony <ref name="SinghIndia2005" /> is held on the morning of the wedding or the day before.<ref name="Oldenburg2002" /> The bride's maternal uncle and aunt give her a set of ''churiyan''.

Traditionally, the bride would wear a ''chura'' for a full year,<ref name="Shukla2015">{{cite book|author=Pravina Shukla|title=The Grace of Four Moons: Dress, Adornment, and the Art of the Body in Modern India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MlObCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA257|year=2015|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-02121-2|page=257}}</ref> although if a newly wed bride became pregnant before her first anniversary, the ''chura'' was taken off. When the colour started to fade, her in-laws would actually have it re-coloured, so everyone would know that she had been married for less than a year.<ref name="Tandon1968">{{cite book|author=Prakash Tandon|title=Punjabi Century, 1857-1947|url=https://archive.org/details/punjabicentury181968tand|url-access=registration|year=1968|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-01253-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/punjabicentury181968tand/page/132 132]}}</ref> On an auspicious holiday, usually [[Sankranti]], after the first anniversary her in-laws would hold a small intimate ceremony in which the ''chura'' was removed and glass ''churiyan'' (bangles) were placed on both hands. This usually was accompanied with [[Mithai (confectionery)|mithai]] (Indian sweets) and a monetary ''shagun''. The ''chura'' then was taken to a river and a prayer was said and it was left to float onto the water.  Afterwards the woman could wear other ''chura'' in any colour for as long as she liked.

It is now normal for the bride to wear her ''chura'' for a month and a quarter (40 days). As the ''chura'' is made of fragile materials, Indian custom has it that the bride may refrain from heavy housework in her marital home to keep it intact for the 40 days, as a kind of [[honeymoon]]. After that, in traditional homes at least, she takes over the lion's share of domestic work from her mother-in-law.<ref name="bakhshi2009">{{cite book|author=Surinder Singh bakhshi|title=Sikhs in the Diaspora|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sUxx1PPhq7gC&pg=PA233|year=2009|publisher=Dr Surinder Bakhshi|isbn=978-0-9560728-0-1|page=233}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Bracelets]]
[[Category:Hindi words and phrases]]
[[Category:Jewellery of India]]
[[Category:Marriage in Hinduism]]
[[Category:Hindu wedding rituals]]
[[Category:Indian wedding]]
[[Category:Indian wedding traditions]]
[[Category:Gujarati culture]]
[[Category:Punjabi culture]]
[[Category:Punjabi words and phrases]]
[[Category:Sikh practices]]