During Shrawan, (the fourth month, or the holy month, according to Nepali calender), green rules not only the natural environment but also the hands of Nepalese women. The tinkling sound of green glass bangles (hariyo kaanch ko chura in Nepalese) plays an important role in the month of Shrawan. Regardless of whether a woman is literate or illiterate, almost all women decorate their hands with green glass bangles.
Women, either married or unmarried, can be seen with dozens of green glass bangles around their hands. For the married women, we can see green glass bangles in their hands along with strings of green pote (glass beads) around their necks.
There is not any legend or ancient tales about wearing the bangles during Shrawan, but it is believed that green glass bangles are worn for fulfilling one’s desires and wishing a happy and prosperous life to families.
Asked why she was wearing green glass bangles, a married woman said, “I am wearing these bangles for the welfare of my family, but especially for my husband.”
On the other hand, unmarried girls of marriageable age also wear bangles in hopes of getting a handsome guy, and for those who already have boyfriends, making them husbands.
One striking feature is the girls who wear jeans also prefer to wear green glass bangles. In other months or days, glass bangles (any color) are worn only to match the color of the saree worn by married women, with many favoring red.
I become surprised to see my friend fitted with jeans wearing green glass bangles, so I asked why she insisted on wearing both. “I have heard that wearing green color in Shrawan can help to make Ravi (her boyfriend) my husband,” she said. “If you have a boyfriend, go for it today.”
I asked a vendor of glass bangles how his business was lately. “It may be because of Shrawan, but mostly green bangles are demanded equally by married and unmarried women. I am having good business this month,” he said. “Usually red glass bangles are demanded in other months, but only by married ones.”
However, there is restriction for widows in every sector in our society. They are prohibited from wearing red, as well as any glass bangles. Nevertheless, they wear green tika (vermilion powder put on forehead) for the prosperity of their children in the month of Shrawan.
All glass bangles are slender, round in shape and found in different colors. Bangles are worn in the dozens, and typically on the left hand. Women don’t prefer to wear them on the right hand because the right hand is used for doing work and they are more likely to break.
Some glass bangles are simple, while some are carved with gold, silver, and other colors. Thus the price of the bangles can be different. Simple glass bangles cost NRs 10 to 15 (US$0.22-0.32) per dozen, but the carved bangles are priced from NRs 25 to 500 ($0.54-10.75) per dozen.
By Rupa Kharel/OMNI
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