If you love jewellery and have been scrolling through Instagram lately, you’ve probably come across the viral glass bangles with ghungroos. From ‘girlie’ outings to buy choodis to gifting them to friends, these 'Kashmiri bangles' have become the talk of the town. Countless reels make them look irresistible, and naturally, I wanted a pair too. Instead of heading to a store, I asked a friend from Kashmir where I could buy some genuine ones online. What she told me left me completely shocked.
Viral Instagram reel bangles are NOT Kashmiri banglesFrom the past few months, ‘Kashmiri’ jewellery has been trending in various Indian markets and of course, Instagram reels. From glass bangles with ghungroos to Kashmiri dejhoor earrings, the internet is obsessed.
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The glass bangles with bells or ghungroos that you often see in Instagram reels are beautiful, eye-catching, and seem perfect for weddings. However, they are not actually a Kashmiri tradition. A quick Google search for “Kashmiri bangles” may show many ghungroo-laden designs, but Kashmiri brides traditionally do not wear glass bangles at their weddings. Instead, they usually opt for gold ones.
A traditional Kashmiri bride is adorned with a distinctive headgear known as the Taranga, while her bridal attire is typically crafted from pure silk. When it comes to jewellery, one of the most striking pieces worn by Kashmiri brides is the Dejhoor.
Credit: Instagram/angira
Dejhoor are traditional long, dangling, often hexagonal (Shatkon) earrings worn by married Kashmiri Pandit women as a symbol of marital status and cultural heritage. Bollywood celebrities like Yami Gautam and Angira Dhar have been spotted flaunting their wedding dejhoor.
Credit:Instagram/ yamigautam
Naturally, from the lanes of Janpath to the markets of Colaba, everyone wants to hop on this new trend. However, most of these designs are merely inspired by the traditional Dejhoor and are nothing like the actual piece, which is simply a gold chain attached to a movable piece called Ath.
More importantly, to wear a Dejhoor, Kashmiri women get a piercing on the ear cartilage instead of the earlobe.
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Even Bollywood celebrities have worn Dejhoor-inspired earrings, including Janhvi Kapoor.
Credit:Instagram/ janhvikapoor
While trends often borrow inspiration from traditional crafts, knowing the difference between authentic heritage pieces and modern interpretations will help us understand and respect the culture behind them.
So, the next time an Instagram reel convinces you to run out and buy “Kashmiri bangles,” pause for a second. They may be pretty, trendy, and totally worth adding to your jewellery box, but they are more desi girl-core than Kashmiri.
Lead and social image credits: iDiva, X
