The Bunt Jewel Box
My last couple of blogs spoke about two aspects of the Bunt community: the latest blog being on ancestral homes and the Jain connect in the Bunt community ( https://medium.com/@vidyashetty_70075/of-guthus-and-beedus-6bc3b55d737c) and the earlier blog being on Bunt jewellery especially the vadungeela (https://medium.com/@vidyashetty_70075/the-exotic-vadungeela-eb71037a73b2). The common strand between these two stories is the fact that the Bunt community has a strong connection with culture, history and economic relevance of the past. Their origin and culture may have many complex theories, but one strand stands out clear that they were owners of the land, contributed to the socio-economic culture of Tulu nadu and were warriors who fought to protect their lands.
Evident that they were nature worshippers are seen in the various forms of worship be it in the nagabhanas or the snake hill that is found in a grove or nagaradhana during which areca flowers and colours of nature.…green from green leaves powdered, yellow from the turmeric, black from roasted paddy husk and flowers and fruit and tender coconuts in plenty are used. Bhuta aradhana which has spirit worship at various Bunt family homes during which the man donning the attire for the kola is seen wearing coconut leaves around his waist as a garment apart from make up and ornaments. Nature is thus associated with all forms of worship whether it is the coconut leaves, the areca flowers or the flowers and fruit offered to these deities.
Taking this nature worship forward is the main thought of this piece and the focus on the jewellery worn by the Bunt woman. Where we notice that all forms of adornments worn by a woman is always circular in form, be it the bindi, the bangle, the ear stud, the anklet, the ring, the waistband…to list a few…feminists opine that this was done to domesticate the woman and trap her in a circle. However, the Bunt community has always had women at the forefront of matters and there are rare instances of insubordination of Bunt women. Well, within the circular forms of jewellery are variations and associations with nature in the Bunt adornments. Most of these patterns are associated with the fact that this community was primarily agrarian in occupation and these patterns of jewellery are inspired from nature..be it the bridal jewellery which has coral to pearls to diamonds and rubies, popularly known as the navarathna sara to the traditional wear worn by the Bunt women. That they were worshippers of Devi and Shakti is evident from the ashtalaxmi sara, misiri mala, the gejje addige sara and the lakshmi balai which has the goddess Lakshmi embossed or the Lakshmi pendant that is prominently placed in the centre of the waistband. The shapes of the jewellery move from the circular to other geometric shapes as the Bunt woman wears the vadungeela and the vanki and the bugudi or koppu. Moving on, the other patterns of jewellery ranging from the bendole or the ear studs which is set in diamonds has the form of a flower, malligemugusara has jasmine buds strung together in gold, the kukkumudi sara has small mangoes strung together in gold, the gile ole is worn as a set of studs and necklace with the design of a parrot head, the kajipukai sara or popularly known as the tarkari mala or the vegetable and fruit chain in gold, the beduru bale or the bamboo design bangle, the godhi sara or the wheat chain which has whole wheat crafted and so on.
A typical Bunt bride would wear all these auspicious jewellery which has to connect with nature. This jewellery is passed on for generations and the newer generation also ensures that the jewellery made by them has these antique patterns carried forward. One more unique way of taking forward the distinct cultural history of the Bunt community!
