Buy Awesome Jewellery at Ahmedabad

Jewellery at Ahmedabad

On any given day, I like shopping at a street shop or a market than at some stuffy branded store in a mall. Not that I have anything against mid/high end brands, but I really like looking at slightly chaotic, multicolored, and sometimes over the top displays at street shops. Here the shopkeepers smile genuinely and wish you when you make a purchase. Plus, they are really affordable, the walking and standing doubles up as exercise so such a spree is guilt free. If you agree with me and ever in India you must visit absolutely fantastic markets around the country. Janpath, Kinari Bazaar (for supplies) and Sarojini Nagar in Delhi, Brigade Road and Commercial Street in Bangalore, South Usman road in Chennai, Main Guard gate in Trichy, Ghariyahat in Kolkata, Lad Bazaar/Chudi bazaar in Hyderabad and Law garden market to buy jewellery at Ahmedabad. Ofcourse, there are many many more fabulous markets in many Indian cities but these are just my personal favourites.

garba Jewellery at Ahmedabad

Law Garden Market

Coming to Ahmedabad’s Law Garden market, which is the latest addition to my list, a walk through there is like walking through the Aladdin’s cave. So many treasures and all so very beautiful. Do take a look at my post on Gujarat Inspiration to look at the kind of home decor products and traditional Garba clothes in found in the market. Apart from Dance costumes and festive attire there’s a lot ofย  regular merchandise there but I chose to focus this posts on the special traditional clothing and jewellery from Gujarat.

Jewellery at Ahmedabad

The Navaratri festival is very big is western India with people decked up in colorful traditional attire dancing to popular songs and traditional renditions in Garba and Dandiya styles. Dandiya is a dance played with 2 sticks (or Khol) and mimics the swords fight between Goddess Durga and the Demon Mahisasura before she killed him on the 10th tenth day, emerging victorious. In Garba Decorated pots enclosed with normal lamps are used. Garba means “Womb” and the light inside refers to the new life that is created within it. Both dances follow circular patterns and the feverish music along with the movements can make a novice quite dizzy.

garba jewelry

The perfect attire for a Garba or Dandiya Raas for men is the kedia and turbans and lehengha/Chanya choliย  with Odni (duppata)for women.They are usually accessorized with oxidized metal (silver/gold) jewelry or Meenakari sets. The sets would generally have only white mirrors on them, but colors are increasingly included in the form of resin stones and beads to match with the clothes; which I somehow dislike.

Yup, that me in the picture,in 2012 dressed up as a Rajasthani tribal girl, on my trip to Mt.Abu. Though I am wearing a embroidered Ghaghra – Choli, this isn’t exactly Gujarati attire (the headgear here is distinctly tribal), but it might give an idea of how the bangles stay high up on the biceps and how colorful the clothes are.ย 

garba jewelry, mina chuda bangles
Mina bangles (Chuda)

Choora – Chuda

I never knew that something called “Mina Chuda” existed until I came across stalls of Jewellery at Ahmedabad. Chuda or Choora are traditional red and white bangles worn by new brides mainly in western India. Like one reader pointed out – no gujarati weddings are complete without the bride wearing a chuda got from her maternal uncle. It would be made of ivory and decorated with gold patterns. These bangles here (wrongly referred to as Mina meaning Enamel) actually have a colored metal covering on a plastic base. They have been created using an amalgamation of techniques such as foil sheeting, enamelling/coloring and repousse often used to make normal home decor items. I was so fascinated by them (to the shopkeeper’s amusement as I didnt buy any) that I kept asking him questions to how they were made that he finally said “Ye tho Rajasthan se aathe hi, abhi bahut fashion mein hai” (These come from Rajasthan and there are really in trend -Fashion now) with a typical look that said, ‘Dont ask me why, I dont know’.

rajasthani tribal bangles
Plastic Bangle sets
These bangles pictured above are once again from the neighbouring state of Rajasthan and are usually worn by tribal women. These are worn starting from wrist uptil the upper arm, though these days people just wear a couple of bangles at the bicep for a little tribal flair. the bangles were originally made of Ivory or Lac; now they are made of plastic and have a shiny gold paper on them
buy Jewellery at Ahmedabad
So that’s it from the Law garden market folks, I hope you had fun looking at all the awesomeย Jewellery at Ahmedabad and “Window shopping” (pun intended). I will share more such indigenous goodness in the future
Find my previous post on Gujarat Architecture and textiles here

Thanks to Pallavi for more information about the Chudha. Do read her detailed description of them in the comments section ๐Ÿ™‚
I hope you find it interesting
Cheers

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16 responses to “Buy Awesome Jewellery at Ahmedabad”

  1. Michelle L. avatar

    Love that fabulous picture of you, Divya! The markets and shops sound like a version of heaven to me.

  2. motidana avatar

    Truly said , shopping in Law garden Ahmedabad is truly a dream !
    Regarding the chuda , I wanted to share with you , that no gujarati weddings are complete without the bride wearing a chuda got from her maternal uncle ,along with a panetar ( the traditional white and red bandhani saree ) . In the earlier times , the chuda was made only with a ivory base and even today , you will find many family heirlooms carefully stored away . The first thing purchased for the bride , to begin her wedding shopping was this chuda . The simple ivory chuda was then decorated usually with gold , and the patterns on which were made intricate ,elaborate, or simple according to the affordability of the Mama ( mother`s brother ) . And it was worn at the time of the wedding and worn for the entire life.
    But alas , as ivory is banned today , new designs and styles and materials have replaced the age old tradition but the significance still remains .

  3. bairozan avatar

    Years ago a friend of mine traveled to India and brought me a moonstone pendant, a necklace and ring made of horns (not ivory) and a set of glass bangles that were too small for my hand. I still remember the feeling of disappointment – they were so beautiful ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Divya N avatar

    Thanks for the information Pallavi, I have never known Gujaratri brides who wore ivory bangles so I guessed that it must be a trend that's catching up according to what the shopkeepers told me. My bad, but I have added it in the post now…Thanks

  5. Divya N avatar

    do plan a trip here and I'll take you shopping ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Divya N avatar

    Haaaa thanks ๐Ÿ™‚ I am sure that you would found all sorts of crazy goodies there for you to upcycle or use in your work or simply wear and enjoy

  7. CREATIVE KHADIJA avatar

    Beautiful, and pretty you ๐Ÿ™‚ amazing Divya !!

  8. Cinnamon Jewellery avatar

    I think I'd spend hours and hours in the markets you mentioned! Nice photo, the colours in the costume are beautiful ๐Ÿ˜€

  9. Little Treasures avatar

    Well, (window) shopping there would certainly be exhilarating!!
    Lovely picture of you in the traditional attire ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Siddharth Gupta avatar

    I want to buy antique silver metal jewelery. From where I can buy them. Kaml gupta

  11. nishu avatar
    nishu

    can u take my order for nvrtra dresup nd jeellery

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Hey I do not make these items. Please check your local markets for items

  12. Richa Patel avatar
    Richa Patel

    Hello Divyan,
    many designers like you prefer to get to into market and buy some stuff. and I have been to law garden after this I loved the whole market it was full of variety. I bought bandhani saree and bought kada and juda for me and my relatives. Thank you for recommending this place.

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      That is wonderful. I hope you had a great time shopping there

  13. vaishnavi avatar
    vaishnavi

    kya me ye jewellery online mngba skti hu …

    1. jewelsofsayuri avatar

      Maybe on other sites, but I do not sell it

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