Crochet Jewellery for Haldi Ceremony in Indian Wedding Part 1: Veni / Gajara

 

Fig 1

Hello friends,

Indian weddings are festival type celebrations. It is full of rituals, extensive decorations, music, dance and enjoyments of various types. There are several small and big events pre and post marriage. Indian people spend sufficient amount of money, energy and time on this occassion. For details please visit,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weddings_in_India

Among prewedding rituals "Haldi Ceremony" is of

Fig 2

the most important. It is also known as Holy bath, Pithi ceremony, Ubtan, Mandha or Tel Baan (Tel van) in various states of India. This is mostly done on a day before wedding or on the same morning before wedding. Paste of Termeric, Sandlewood power, Oil and Rose water is applied to both bride and groom both.  Both wear yellow dresses bride wears yellow floral jewellery. Ceremony is accomplished by music, dance and happy atmosphere. The significance is:

1. Haldi (Termeric) gives fair glow to the body. 

2. It is supposed to be auspicious.

3. Some people thought that it protects newly 

Fig 3

Fig 4

married couple from the evil eye.

4. Yellow colour is supposed to be prosperous for new couple.

5. Haldi is antiseptic and does purification of body.

6. Helps to drive away premarriage jitters.

Fig 5

Fig 6

7. Haldi is salso supposed to be symbol of blessings.

Such a lovely ceremony is Haldi function. 

The floral jewellery purchased for Haldi function cost generally Rs. 2000/- to 3000/-

At the same time being floral it naturally dried in 2-3 hours. So here I

Fig 7

suggest "Crochet Jewellery for Haldi Ceremony" which is fantastic alternative to floral. Because they are ever lasting, we can use it after marriage also in various functions. Necklace, earrings and Kangan can be used in any function. Bindi can be converted to simple necklace, Waki can be wear as necklace. Kamarpatta can be used for decorating purpose.

The whole set I have made is shown in fig 2. and it consists of 1. Veni / Gajara, 2. Necklace, 3. Bindi, 4. Vaki, 5. Earrings, 6. Kangan and 7. Kamar patta.

Here is our first jewellery among them, that is Veni / Gajara. This is the hair accessory, generally used in two forms loosely thread flowers as in fig 7 and tightly thread flowers as in fig 1.

Yellow yarn will be the default yarn in Haldi function jewellery set. I used 4 ply yarn.

Pattern: Make chains 64+1 by green yarn.

R1: With green make [sc 1 in 4 sts, join yellow colour, ch3, dc 4 in next ch, take the hook out and insert in the third ch, pass the working loop (st) through this third ch. ch2, again remove hook insert it in the base st from front side (see fig 3) and get the loop out, pass green yarn through this pull tightly, one bud made] repeat this all over the row. After 3 buds it will look as in fig 4. 

Once the row is finished it will be as in fig 5, you may use this itself as a accessory but for wedding ceremony it will be delicate so we work out other side also.

R2: After sc 1 in last 3 sts, sc 2 in corner st, sc 1 in 5 sts on other side (so that new bud will be in between two buds on other side) [make a bud as in previous row, sc 1 in 4 sts] rep till end. If you keep it loose, it will be as in fig 7 and if you arrange it as in fig 1, it will be like Veni.

The following video may help you.

ETC: Enjoy the Creativity.