Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 372

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CHAPTER XV
The Ornaments worn by Hindus.
— The Different Marks with which they
adorn their Bodies.
Every Hindu, even including those who have made
a profession of penitence and have renounced the world,
wears earrings. The sannyasis or penitents, who are sup-
posed to have given up the three things which most natur-
that is to say, women,
ally tend to excite man's cupidity
honours, and riches wear copper earrings in token of
But generally such ornaments are made of
humility.
gold, and are of different shapes, though most frequently
Occasionally these pendants are so large that one
oval.
can easily pass one's hand through them. Some are made
of copper wire, round which gold wire is so twisted as to
cover the copper completely. Those who are fairly well
off wear them with a large pearl or precious stone in the
—
—
centre.
These ear ornaments, which are sometimes of enormous
are another proof of the Hindu's strong attachment to
his old customs.
All writers, both sacred and profane, bear
witness to the fact that similar ornaments have been worn
from time immemorial. On grand occasions, such as
marriage feasts, they put four or five pairs into their ears,
and at the end or in the centre of each of these is added
another small ornament set with some precious stone. In
some parts of the country a gold ring is also attached to
the cartilage which divides the nostrils. Poor people,
Pariahs included, who cannot afford to buy such valuable
ornaments, wear some small inexpensive trinket in their
ears.
But, no matter what their caste or circumstances,
fashion decrees that no one shall be without this species
of adornment.
Rich Hindus wear round their necks gold chains or
strings of pearls with large medallions set with diamonds
which reach to their chests and you often see them
wearing gold finger-rings set with precious stones of great
value.
They also frequently wear round their waists a
girdle made of gold or silver thread woven with much
taste and skill, and carry massive gold bracelets on their
size,
;