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Beady attraction in the Himalayas

Last Updated 11 November 2017, 15:32 IST

When one talks about the jewellery of Nepal, traditional pote jewellery first comes to  mind. They serve as a symbol of marriage in Nepalese society. In fact, it's quite common to come across pote jewellery here. Comprising miniature and colourful glass beads, they are believed to bring good luck to the womenfolk of the land.

Pote necklaces are worn by married ladies belonging to the Brahmin, Kshatriya and other Hindu communities of Nepal. When a woman loses her husband, she stops wearing them.

Around eight years back, when I was zipping around Kathmandu, I come across pote jewellery on my visit to Bhaktapur, where one can get pote of unusual designs. There are necklaces crafted out of Tibetan coins, which impart a touch of elegance to the wearer.

One can also try the tribal Nepalese coral pote that comes with a Tibetan coin at the back of the coral. The multi-stranded glass beads are priced higher than the single-stranded glass beads. Coin necklaces are common in western Nepal and are well-known as rupiya mala, having either Indian, Chinese or Tibetan coins. Pote jewellery is used for dolling up Nepalese brides. If one is travelling to Pokhra, then Pote jewellery should be on your bucket list as their prices are comparatively cheaper than in Kathmandu.

Pote jewellery with stone pendants in royal blue or green is popular. But it's Kathmandu, which is more of a tourists' paradise, that acts as a ramp for those sporting pote.

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(Published 11 November 2017, 09:22 IST)

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