Bhor ...... The Crowning Glory

The Bhor is a head ornament. It consists of a round disc or ball encrusted with jewels. It is suspended by a central chain attached to a hook. Sometimes it also has two other chains on either sides of the ornament. The central chain is hooked onto the hair at the back of the head while the side chains are fixed to the hair above the temples. This piece of jewellery sits right on the edge of the hairline where it meets the forehead.

This ancient ornament was generally worn by married women but over the ages for its decorative quotient it is now worn by women of all ages especially in Rajasthan; the land of its inception. 

The reason for the creation of this piece of jewellery has many facets to it. 

The positioning of the ornament is right on the forehead which is the frontal lobe of the brain. 

 The frontal lobe plays a large role in voluntary movement. It houses the primary motor cortex which regulates activities like walking.

The function of the frontal lobe also involves the ability to project future consequences resulting from current actions, the choice between good and bad actions (or better and best) (also known as conscience), the override and suppression of socially unacceptable responses, and the determination of similarities and differences between things or events.

The above proves the advanced knowledge of the ancient Indian people before the introduction of modern science. 

All scientific realities in India in those times were explained within the premise of religion and God. 

The ornament Bhor was a sacred salutation to the perceptions and keenness of brain function which was interpreted as the Seat of God. 

As the woman would be carrying the 'family jewels' so to say; an aura of sanctified reverence had to be created to protect her. To add to this; it had to be a mature woman who felt responsible for the survival of her family hence this piece of jewellery belonged to the repertoire of the married woman. 

The Bhor in its inception was a simple silver or gold disc but as man became more progressive in business and farming the concept of the Bhor too took on more expensive and unique forms. From the simple disc it elevated its status to being crafted with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other gems set in gold. The skills and designs of the craftsmen and gold smiths were given a larger canvas to work with. 

The glittering gems were encircled with seed pearls to bring out the radiance of the encrusted jewels. The chains and hooks on all three sides changed from silver to gold. 

From farms and travelling Diaspora to the durbars of Rajasthani Palaces the Bhor found a place of high esteem. 

In today's emancipated progressive Indian society; the Bhor is worn with pride at glitzy and opulent Big Fat Indian Weddings throughout the country!