Goddess Durga is always an enormous source of inspiration. Be it paintings, sculptures, murals and even wearables like sarees, dupattas, stoles and so on, the goddess has inspired several artists to create breathtaking art. Jewellery is also part of the list.
From chunky statement neckpieces to pendants, jhumkas, baalis, nosepins, finger rings and so on, Maa Durga-inspired ornaments in different material are in vogue and will certainly amp up your fashion game this festive season.
A TOUCH OF ETHNICITY
Mumbai-based e-entrepreneur Clara Baptist, who originally hails from Kolkata, deals in temple jewellery, ornaments in German silver and semiprecious stone jewellery. However, this festive season, the highlight of her collection is jewellery made from German silver based on Maa Durga.
Each set consists of a necklace, jhumkas and a nose pin. “Women feel that owning them is a matter of pride. Besides, the jewellery is also high in fashion quotient,” says Baptist who sources the ornaments from artisans in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai and retails through her Facebook page www.facebook.com/CBHOBBY and WhatsApp for her close-knit group.
Talking about the demand for this type of jewellery, she says, “The set which has a necklace, earrings and nose pin looks very elegant. These days nose pins are in fashion hence nose pins with Maa Durga’s face on them has a novelty factor, hence women like to sport them,” informs Baptist who says that the demand for Maa Durga-inspired jewellery is very high among women between 30 and 45 years of age. However, youngsters refrain from sporting something as symbolic as Maa Durga. Says she,“Youngsters like more carefree and casual look.”
Just like a Durga idol, her jewellery too has a lot of detailing and intricacies. Carving the face and eyes of Maa Durga needs meticulous work which is why the jewellery is priced slightly higher. “The price ranges between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,500 for the entire set,” says Baptist who also sells finger rings with Buddha art on them.
Some of them come only in metal and others have coloured stones and kundan work on them to match the outfit. While a few necklaces have Maa Durga’s face in different sizes running through the entire piece, others have simple designs with a big Maa Durga-shaped pendant at the centre.
A few of the jhumkas too have Maa Durga’s face on the top portion and others have a kundan top with the goddess’ face carved in the lower half.
Talking about how to pair them, Baptist says, “Although these necklaces can be sported along with Indo-Western ensembles, they go best with sarees.”
TERRACOTTA GETS COOL
Terracotta jewellery has become a new definition of chic styling. This type of jewellery has been quite a popular accessory item for middle-aged women who sport them with traditional outfits. However, Pune-based entrepreneur, skin expert and fashion stylist Ritika Tara Sharma, who retails through her website www.rangtara.com, has given terracotta jewellery a cool look with Maa Durga’s face on them.
Sharma, who sources the jewellery from a family of traditional potters living in Kolkata, says, “They are a family of five potters who have been into the art of idol making for ages. However due to their disability they cannot make big idols like other idol makers. Hence they draw and paint the face of goddess Durga on pendants/ necklace attached on coloured thread and earrings made of terracotta,” says Sharma who keeps sending the designs to the artisans to ensure that they come up with new unique and beautiful handpainted terracotta jewellery.
Through her brand Rang Tara, Sharma always make it an effort to connect fashion with our roots and empower handicraft. “We give art a stylish spin when selling and create a marriage between fashion and art so that all age groups can wear them. The colours — bright green, red, yellow, blue, purple — that we have used are in sync with the festive season. We wanted our collection to capture the festive vibes hence the theme of Maa Durga. It is not just about the goddess and her beautiful eyes, but also about women power,” says Sharma who says that girls in the age bracket of 19 to 20 and also ladies around 50 to 55 find the jewellery cool.
“Young girls like to flaunt them with spaghetti tops and rugged denims or skirts and women in older age groups like to sport them with sarees and they look very elegant. It is refreshing to see how the younger generation now is so drawn to terracotta jewellery, otherwise women above the age of 35 usually sported them,” says Sharma. Her Durga-inspired jewellery is available in the price range of Rs 450 and Rs 700.
Ask her how to style them and Sharma says, “Handpainted terracotta jewellery is versatile and can be worn on anything and for any occasion. You just have to work around the colour and it looks perfect with all sorts of attires. Whether you wear denims, shorts, sarees or salwar-kameez, you can wear the terracotta accessories to make a fashion statement.”
