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Bangle
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Bangles made from sea shell, <a href="/facts/Copper/I8PEE8oX">copper</a>, <a href="/facts/Bronze/YCYCVIKt">bronze</a>, <a href="/facts/Gold/1znknojp">gold</a>, <a href="/facts/Agate/1E9v6Jxp">agate</a>, <a href="/facts/Chalcedony/46xQNNxs">chalcedony</a>, etc. have been excavated from multiple archaeological sites throughout the <a href="/facts/Indian_subcontinent/0XUWGXpx">Indian subcontinent</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> A figurine of a dancing girl wearing bangles on her left arm has been excavated from the <a href="/facts/Mohenjo-daro/aC8lQMa4">Mohenjo-daro</a> archaeological site (2600 BC) in modern-day <a href="/facts/Pakistan/cbIsvJy1">Pakistan</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> Other early examples of bangles in <a href="/facts/Ancient_India/ntYkAYDQ">ancient India</a> include copper samples from the excavations at Mahurjhari, followed by the decorated bangles belonging to the <a href="/facts/Mauryan_Empire/STQagR1r">Mauryan Empire</a> (322–185 BC) and the gold bangle samples from the historic site of <a href="/facts/Taxila/d1H9KJN3">Taxila</a> (6th century BC).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> Decorated shell bangles have also been excavated from multiple Mauryan sites.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> Other features include copper rivets and gold-leaf inlay in some cases.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="design">Design</h2> <p>Bangles are circular in shape, and, unlike other <a href="/facts/Bracelet/uDuN5jHD">bracelets</a>, are not flexible. The word is derived from Hindi <i>bungri</i> (glass).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> They are made of numerous precious as well as non-precious materials such as <a href="/facts/Gold/1znknojp">gold</a>, <a href="/facts/Silver/xXe41BGg">silver</a>, <a href="/facts/Platinum/qJC6lQf7">platinum</a>, <a href="/facts/Glass/hezRsAGf">glass</a>, <a href="/facts/Wood/z13NpHPl">wood</a>, <a href="/facts/Iron/QK1JYy8E">ferrous metals</a>, <a href="/facts/Plastic/Kla5QItn">plastic</a>, etc. Bangles made from sea shell, which are white colour, are worn by married <a href="/facts/Bengali_people/zUbaEVXE">Bengali</a> and <a href="/facts/Oriya_people/npvswbPS">Oriya</a> <a href="/facts/Hindu/D7TFhcg1">Hindu</a> women. A special type of bangle is worn by women and girls, especially in the Bengal area, commonly known as a "Bengali bangle", which is used as a substitute for a costly gold bangle, and is produced by thermo-mechanically fusing a thin gold strip (weighing between 1–3 g) onto a bronze bangle, followed by manual crafting on that fused gold strip. </p><p>Bangles are part of traditional <a href="/facts/Indian_subcontinent/0XUWGXpx">Indian subcontinent</a> jewellery. They are sometimes worn in pairs by women, one or more on each arm. It is also common for women to wear a single bangle or several bangles on just one wrist. Most Indian women prefer wearing either gold or glass bangles or a combination of both. Inexpensive bangles made from plastic are slowly replacing those made by glass, but the ones made of glass are still preferred at traditional occasions such as marriages and on festivals. Bangles are the signs for traditional women and girls. Bangles play a very important role in various Indian dance forms. Some of dance forms include bangles striking each other to produce a tone. </p><p>The designs range from simple to intricate handmade designs, often studded with precious and semi-precious stones such as <a href="/facts/Diamond/IBUdnd1y">diamonds</a>, <a href="/facts/Gemstone/kHffmvE3">gems</a> and <a href="/facts/Pearl/7ombxKgg">pearls</a>. Sets of expensive bangles made of gold and silver make a jingling sound. The imitation jewellery tends to make a tinny sound when jingled. </p> <h2 id="types">Types</h2> <p>There are two basic types of bangles: a solid cylinder type; and a split, cylindrical spring opening/closing type. The primary distinguishing factor between these is the material used to make the bangles. This may vary from anything from glass to jade to metal to <a href="/facts/Lac_(resin)/rd54EgL7">lac</a> and even rubber or plastic. </p><p>One factor that adds to the price of the bangles is the artifacts or the further work done on the metal. This includes embroidery or small glass pieces or paintings or even small hangings that are attached to the bangles. The rareness of a colour and its uniqueness also increase the value. Bangles made from lac are one of the oldest types and among the brittlest. <a href="/facts/Lac_(resin)/rd54EgL7">Lac</a> is a resinous material, secreted by insects, which is collected and moulded in hot kilns to make these bangles. Among the more recent kinds are rubber bangles, worn more like a wristband by youngsters, and plastic ones which add a trendy look. </p><p>Normally, a bangle worn by people around the world is simply an inflexible piece of jewellery worn around the wrist. However, in many cultures, especially those from <a href="/facts/Indian_culture/GjHPLXPR">Indian cultures</a> and the broader <a href="/facts/Indian_subcontinent/0XUWGXpx">Indian subcontinent</a>, bangles have evolved into various types in which different ones are used on different occasions.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>The following are some popular designs of bangles in India:- </p> <ol><li>Jadau Bangles (Also known as Kundan);</li> <li>Meenakari Bangles;</li> <li>Lac or Lakhs Bangles.</li></ol> <p>Bangles, in India, are usually used by married women or girls. A chura is a set of Bangles traditionally worn by a bride on her wedding day and for a period after, especially in Punjabi weddings. </p> <h2 id="production">Production</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Hyderabad/APPUtNqU">Hyderabad</a>, India, has a historic world-famous market for bangles named <a href="/facts/Laad_Bazaar/ElaWvmGz">Laad Bazaar</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></li> <li>Glass bangles are mostly produced in the old Indian city of <a href="/facts/Firozabad/ETaG0VIq">Firozabad</a> in <a href="/facts/North_India/tIUqMm15">North India</a>.</li> <li>In <a href="/facts/Pakistan/cbIsvJy1">Pakistan</a>, glass bangles are produced mainly in <a href="/facts/Hyderabad,_Sindh/R41dGwr6">Hyderabad</a>, Sindh and plastic full arm bangles are produced in <a href="/facts/Tharparkar/NStv6clg">Tharparkar</a>, <a href="/facts/Badin_District/yVbJlAyG">Badin</a>, <a href="/facts/Umerkot/NkGtRzrp">Umerkot</a> and <a href="/facts/Sanghar_District/7v9tB6y7">Sanghar</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="gallery">Gallery</h2> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Choora/TCMUjNVS">Choora</a></li></ul> <h2 id="notes">Notes</h2> Look up <i>bangle</i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bangles. <ul><li>Ghosh, Amalananda (1990). <i>An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology</i>. <a href="/facts/Brill_Publishers/UwYwgUu0">Brill</a>. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 90-04-09264-1.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Ghosh, page 224 <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Ghosh, page 83 <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Ghosh, page 224 <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Ghosh, page 224 <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Ghosh, page 224 <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Etymology of Selected Words of Indian Language Origin". Wmich.edu. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2013. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140220033539/http://www.wmich.edu/dialogues/themes/indianwords.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20140220033539/http://www.wmich.edu/dialogues/themes/indianwords.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Bangles". Tamilnadu.com. 4 March 2013. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131018071805/http://tamilnadu.com/fashion/bangles.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131018071805/http://tamilnadu.com/fashion/bangles.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Hyderabad on the Net: Other Attractions". Hyderabad.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130107073802/http://www.hyderabad.co.uk/attractions.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20130107073802/http://www.hyderabad.co.uk/attractions.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>"Hyderabadi bangles most desired accessory for Eid buyers". The News International. 28 May 2019. <a href="https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/477523-hyderbadi-bengals-most-desired-accessory-for-eid-buyers" target="_blank">https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/477523-hyderbadi-bengals-most-desired-accessory-for-eid-buyers</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>