The Exotic Vadungeela
“Look how this ring
Encompasseth thy finger,
Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart;
Wear both of them, for both of them are thine.”
-William Shakespeare
A ring goes eternally round like the circle which has no end but goes around perpetually. The only pause in a ring is when there is a deliberate design detour. It encompasses every lovers finger for s/he makes promises of togetherness. A slight detour in these bands is the V ring or what is called the Vadungeela amongst the Bunt community from Mangalore, India. A true matriarchal community, which had women rule the reigns of the homes, as the Bunt men stayed away from homes; engaged in wars and other economic engagements. The ‘aliyasanthana’ (matrilineal) system still prevails in this community. Hence the girl and her wedding is a treat to the eye, with the Bunt jewellery, the rituals and the social grandeur. One such part of the rituals observed is the “murthasese” at the bride’s house, which has the bride’s paternal aunt play an important role in the ritual as she oversees the bride praying to Tulsi (Goddess Lakshmi), the basil plant, that holds a powerful location in the house. Thereafter, she wears the silver toe ring on the bride’s second toe, which is spiral; signifying good health and a healthy uterus. After which she slides the V ring or the ‘Vadungeela’ on the ring finger of the bride. The nerve of this finger connects with the brain, the brain that takes decisions, symbolises confidence. A notable difference here is in the shape of the Vadungeela, which is a never ending V, that clasps the finger like the ‘encompassing’ that Shakespeare describes of the round finger ring. This is the never ending bond that the bride carries with her from the mother’s home to that of her husband, with the assurance that the family ties and roots remain bonded with her, vesting in her powers of decision making and making her the custodian of rituals and practices back home.
Watched a movie the other day on Netflix that had the lead lady wear a ring identical to the V shaped ring worn by the Bunt community women. Research on the internet showed that this Western world star was married to a Bunt and hence the acceptance of the ‘vadungeela’. Well the Bunt celebrities, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty Kundra, actually made it very popular as they flaunt the ‘vadungeela’ come what may in their everyday lives and also in the movies and grand events they attend to popularising the eternal ring, making it a fashion statement today. Wonder whether the significance of the V ring…V for victory of the woman is ever stressed on!
