Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s2.t1.122

c7.s2.t1.122

V. Ornaments and Public Appearance.—Ornaments were quite an important item for the decoration of the body, whether masculine or feminine. It was considered a sign of noble birth to wear ear-rings. The Rajput warrior distinguished himself by his turned-up side whiskers and his ear-rings.¹ The Gujarati Banias were fond of wearing ear-rings of gold set with many precious stones, some other rings over their fingers and a golden girdle over their clothes.² The rest of the men's ornaments, if they may be so termed, consisted of beautiful swords, daggers and other arms. The wearing of ornaments on almost every limb from head to foot, was a special weakness of the feminine sex in Hindustan, as it is even now to a certain extent.³ In matters of decorative ornaments, bulk and profusion, rather than quality and elegance, seem to have determined the female choice. In these matters woman has been extremely slow to listen to the advocates of natural charms who wanted to dispense with all or most of the ornaments.⁴ To a woman in Hindustan, *Suhag* or married life signified the use of ornaments all over the body. In the case of widowhood alone, she threw away her ornaments and jewellery and wiped out the scarlet line of vermillion from her head.⁵ In fact, it was a part of general renunciation of all comforts and happiness, even her life.