Women, Mehendi & Green Bangles In Shrawan

 

The month of Shravan is in its peak now. This is the month, girls and women all are excited about painting their hands red with mehandi or Henna. Likewise, the women also opt to load their hands with green and red colour glass bangles. All these are done during this month, regarded auspicious for the married women.

Shrawan month is considered as the holiest month of the year and each Somvar (Monday) of this month known as Shrawan Somvar is a special day in Shiva temples. Hindu women wear red attire as well as green and yellow bangles, pray for the long and prosperous life for their husbands. And this Hindu month of Shrawan, it is all about henna tattoos, or Mehendi, as it is locally called. There is something very trendy about the beautiful henna tinges, which makes it every female's favorite. Also, Shrawan is the month believed to bring auspices to mehendi wearers. The month of Shrawan, (the fourth month, or the holy month, according to Nepali calendar), green rules not only the natural environment but also the hands of Nepalese women.
The tinkling sound of green glass bangles (hariyo kaanch ko chura in Nepali) plays an important role in the month of Shrawan. Regardless of whether a woman is literate or illiterate, almost all women decorate their hands with green glass bangles.

Women either married or unmarried, can be seen with dozens of green glass bangles around their hands. For the married women, we can see green glass bangles in their hands  along with strings of green pote (glass beads) around their necks.

There is not any legend or ancient tales about wearing the bangles during Shrawan, but it is believedthat green glass bangles are worn for fulfilling one's desires and wishing a happy and prosperous life to families. Asked why she was wearing green glass bangles, a married woman said, "I am wearing these bangles for the welfare of my family, but especially for my husband''.

On the other hand, unmarried girls of marriageable age also wear bangles in hopes of getting a handsome guy, and for those who already have boyfriends, making them husbands. One striking feature is the girls who wear jeans also prefer to wear green glass bangles. In other months or days, glass bangles (any color) are worn only to match the color of the saree worn by married women, with many favoring red.
"It may be because of Shrawan, but mostly green bangles are demanded equally by married and unmarried women. I am having good business this month," local businessman said. "Usually red glass bangles are demanded in other months, but only by married ones."
However, there is restriction for widows in every sector in our society. They are prohibited from wearing red, as well as any glass bangles. Nevertheless, they wear green tika (vermilion powder put on forehead) for the prosperity of their children inthe month of Shrawan.

All glass bangles are slender, round in shape and found in different colors. Bangles are worn in the dozens, and typically on the left hand. Women don't prefer to wear them on the right hand because the right hand is used for doing work and they are more likely to break.