Mangalsutra

Explore the Modern Mangalsutra Necklaces Online

Indian culture holds high regard for marriage as a social institution. As the land has so many different cultures, there are ornaments that symbolize two individuals becoming each other’s companions. Some of the examples of Indian jewelry for married women are a nose pin, bangles and toe rings. But the most important one is a mangalsutra necklace. Translating into a ‘holy thread’ or a ‘sacred thread’, mangalsutra designs are made of gold and typically sport black beads. Traditional ones are longer and more ornate while modern mangalsutra designs are short and minimally decorated. Let us understand various mangalsutra designs so you can pick the right one.

Well-known Mangalsutra Designs Across India

As mentioned previously, mangalsutra chain is an ornament that is common across many Indian cultures. But the mangalsutra designs vary, depending on the culture. In this section, we will cover some of the popular designs of mangalsutra.

Kashmir

While the conventional mangalsutra is a chain around the neck, Kashmiri design differs from this idea. Instead of a neck chain, they wear a set of chain earrings called dejhoor. These are long gold chains with pendants that hang from both her ears. Worn by Kashmiri Pandit brides a day before they wed, the jewelry is initially placed in the piercing of the ear in a red thread. Later, the thread is replaced with a gold chain known as an ath bought by the bride’s in-laws. Athur is a small gold ornament, is attached to the dejhoor. The dejhoor symbolizes a yantra denoting Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti, which are worshiped extensively by the Kashmiri Pandits.

Bihar

This culture’s necklace is known as taagpaag. It has two chains filled with black beads and in between there are gold beads or gold ornate pieces. The pendant may be according to the choice of the bride. The standard pendant is a gold one which is intricate and ornate with motifs of deities and encrusted with stones or pearls.

Tamil

Known as Thali Kodi, the Tamilian mangalsutra have symbolic representations of the family deity, Goddess Meenakshi, Tulsi plant or Lord Shiva. They can also be more ornate with the addition of gold coins, diamonds, and gems. Some other names of the mangalsutra include Thirumangalayam and Mangalyam. Thali or pendant is worn with a yellow thread called “Manja Kayiru” during the wedding, The yellow thread is later replaced with a gold chain or a mangalsutra chain with black beads called “Nallapusalu”.

Kerala

Both Hindu and Syrian Christian brides wear mangalsutras in Kerala. The design of the pendant varies as they both are different religions. The Hindu one is called a “thali” which is a leaf-shaped pendant. The Christian one is called a “minnu” which is a pendant with a cross made of five or seven gold dots.

Telugu

In this culture, there are different names for mangalsutra depending on the caste, community, and location. Some of the names are Mangalasutramu, Pustelu, Maangalyamu, Bottu and Ramar Thaali. A typical Telugu Mangalsutra has two round-shaped discs or coins tied on a yellow thread. On the sixteenth day of marriage, the discs or coins are united but a black or gold bead is kept in between. While the discs are united, they do not bump into each other. This symbolizes unity yet harmony between the two families.

Karnataka

Popularly worn in the Coorg region of Karnataka, mangalsutra is called “Karthamani Pathak”. Karthamani and Pathak are two separate jewellery pieces. The Karthamani is made of corals and gold beads inserted in a thread or gold chain. It is worn with the Pathak, gold pendant, which usually has a large gold coin with Goddess Lakshmi’s motif engraved on it and has small round rubies studded on the sides of the coin.

Maharashtra

The Maharashtrian mangalsutra consists of a chain of black beads with two bowl-shaped gold discs called vatis. Black beads are to keep the evil eye away from the couple while the two vatis signify Shiva and Shakti. The hollow vatis are supposed to face the body. There are two style variations in the arrangement of the black beads - “Nirgun” and “Shagun”. When the whole chain is made of black beads, it is called a “Nirgun” mangalsutra . A Shagun is when two gold beads separate every set of nine black beads. In many designs, a small rectangular coral stone is present between the vatis.

Modern Designs Of Mangalsutra Chain

While the traditional mangalsutra is long and highly decorated, women of today can't wear them all the time. One of the reasons is that today’s women work in many global spheres where they have to look very put-together. But women today are trying to strike a balance between tradition and modernity. Women choose to wear long mangalsutra chains for special occasions and short mangalsutra designs for every day. So, they are opting for modern mangalsutra designs as they are less ornate and heavy and can be worn with most attires, Indian or western. Mirraw has a beautiful collection of mangalsutras that you can choose from celebrate your love. Some of the popular designs include:

Single Pendant Mangalsutra Design

For the ones who love the powerfully clean rule of minimalism, this design is for them. Some of the popular options in designs include geometric, floral, heart, concentric circles or abstract. As there is only one prominent pendant, the design needs to be chosen carefully as it has the potential to steal the spotlight. This kind of mangalsutra can be worn with both a kurta set and a pretty one-piece dress as the modernity of the design suits almost all kinds of attires. Deepika Padukone’s solitaire mangalsutra showed us that simple can be beautiful.

Cresent Shaped Mangalsutra Design

The cresent moon’s shape is something that has always fascinated people. It has always found its place in jewellery pieces from earrings to pendants. So it is no surprise that women are opting for this design as their mangalsutra pendant too. The crescent shape can have a simple line of stones, floral designs or geometric shapes like triangle or filigree patterns. This kind of mangalsutra is great to wear with a pair of salwar kameez as well as a co-ord set.

Colored Stone Mangalsutra Design

While it is known that mangalsutra has beautiful designs, they are often elevated further when colorful stones are embedded in them. Some of the popular colors are pink, green and blue with purple, black and turquoise being the experimental ones. The stones can either be precious or semi-precious. You can find traditional as well as modern designs that are bejeweled with vibrant stones. Priyanka Chopra Jonas was seen sporting a Bulgari mangalsutra with diamond and black onyx as she is a collaborator with the brand for the design and one of the brand’s ambassadors. If you have opted for modern or geometric-shaped pendant, it can be worn with your western dresses, from jumpsuits to fit-and-flare dresses. If the designs are more traditional or opulent, then wear the mangalsutra with ethnic clothes such as kurta churidar sets or Anarkali suits.

Diamond-Studded Mangalsutra Design

In the similar vein of the stones in mangalsutra designs, diamonds are also a great option to choose. They can be great when you want to add bling to the mangalsutra but without the colors. As this kind of mangalsutra is getting quite popular, there are a lot of design options available. Patterns and shapes like floral, squares, circles, triangles, crescents, teardrops, constellations, and many more are available. Many Bollywood divas have opted for diamonds in their mangalsutra design to let it sparkle. Here too you can wear the mangalsutra with an ethnic or modern attire, depending on your mangalsutra’s design. The ones with geometric shapes, teardrop and constellations can work for both kinds of dresses. Floral or crescent-shaped pendants are best suited to ethnic garments. Most Bollywood divas have opted for this stone in their mangalsutra in some or other ways.

Teardrop-Shaped Mangalsutra Design

If you have always loved your teardrop earrings, it is possible to have that design in your mangalsutra. The delicate shape is known to be versatile and makes the wearer look timelessly graceful. Some designs are known to include it as a solitaire while some in a trinity. Some other designs chose only to have the outer line of the teardrop and then filled with other designs like floral or a diamond or a colored stone in the teardrop shape. With its delicate and ageless shape, it can be worn with virtually any garment from sarees to short dresses. Katrina kaif too could not resist including this pretty shape in her mangalsutra along with circles in various designs.

Nature-Inspired Mangalsutra Design

The wonders of Mother Earth have never stop being fascinating to the human mind. Therefore the makers have always tried to capture the elements in the jewellery pieces to give them a bold and enchanting look. But these nature’s designs in mangalsutra might seem unheard of. But in today’s times, patterns such as flowers, peacocks, leaves, moon and stars. This kind of mangalsutra has a remarkable pendant so it can be worn with mostly traditional attires like sarees, lehenga choli or kurta sets as the natural elements hold a strong significance in Indian culture.

Bollywood Mangalsutra Design

You can take cues from many Bollywood divas to get unique ideas for your modern mangalsutra. For a simple mangalsutra design, refer to Shilpa Shetty Kundra’s mangalsutra, a choker-style chain with a double layer of black beads. It is interspersed with diamonds and a teardrop diamond pendant at the center. For a personalized one, take ideas from Sonam Kapoor Ahuja’s modern mangalsutra which sports the husband and wife’s zodiac signs on either side and a diamond solitaire in the middle. Alia Bhatt opted for an infinity pendant in her mangalsutra as when seen vertically the symbol is the number eight which her husband Ranbir Kapoor adores. You too can use zodiac signs or any symbols you and your partner hold dear.

Customized Mangalsutra Design

As the name suggests, you can get the design custom-made. This kind of design is especially important when you want certain, signs, symbols, words or names in your mangalsutra. As mentioned previously, some Bollywood actress have chosen to add designs that hold meaning for their relationship. Many people opt for names or initials of either themselves, their spouses or both in one pendant. Other designs include engraving nicknames or special dates on a pretty pendant. So with these kinds of personalized mangalsutras, you can let your creativity flow and make your D-day even more special.

Shop Gorgeous Mangalsutra Designs From Mirraw Online

Mangalsutra is one of the most important signs of being married and something you will wear frequently. It is therefore necessary to choose the right design. Do not worry as Mirraw is here to help you. From the traditional mangalsutra online to modern mangalsutra online, we have them all! We have short mangalsutra designs and if you want a simple mangalsutra design, we have that too! Get an amazing online shopping experience with user-friendly filters and effortless delivery with Mirraw. We provide free shipping in India and fast shipping internationally. So explore and shop now!