New Delhi: Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is often spotted wearing a V-shaped ring called Vadungila or Vanki. This traditional accessory, popular among married women from Karnataka, particularly the Tulu people, symbolizes good luck, fortune, health, and success. It represents the snake god worship lineage.
Women wear it after marriage in Tulunadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, with different names but similar significance. As a member of the Bunt community of Karnataka, which follows a matrilineal system, Aishwarya’s Vadungila holds great cultural significance, believed to protect the bride from the evil eye.
Cultural significance of Vanki ring or Vadungila
Cultural significance of Vanki ring or Vadungila | Pinterest
Aishwarya Rai is always seen wearing V-shaped diamond-encrusted ring. This ring, also known as the Vanki ring or Vadungila, plays a significant role in a married woman’s life, indicating her marital status. On her wedding day, a bride receives the Vadungila from a female relative from her paternal house, such as her sister-in-law or uncle’s wife.
The ring varies in style, from a thin gold V-shaped band to one studded with diamonds. It serves as a reminder of her loving family as she starts her new journey. Many married women in South India wear the Vadungila, similar to how they wear a mangalsutra after marriage, signifying their marital status.
The Vanki ring holds religious significance. It became a symbol of royalty when princesses from South India’s royal families started wearing them. For the Bunt community in Mangalore, the ring holds special value. The Tulunadu people, living in the coastal region of South Karnataka, are descendants of the Nagavamsha lineage and worship snakes as Naga Dev. The Vanki ring symbolizes the Naga worshippers, representing the raised head of a snake. The Bunt community believes the ring wards off evil and protects young brides or married women from unwanted obstacles.
Aishwarya Rai’s Vanki ring has become a style statement
After she flaunted her Vadungila, it caught the attention of women from different communities. Many now seek similar designs from their jewellers, treating it as a fashionable piece of jewellery.
Centuries ago, queens from Tulunadu wore the Vadungila to ward off evil eyes as they began their new journeys. Today, the ring transcends borders and is cherished by women from various communities. For many, the V-shaped Vanki ring worn by Aishwarya Rai is a fashion statement, but for Bunt women, it embodies emotions, a memento of their parents’ love, values, and teachings. It showcases their traditional lineage, making it much more than just an ornament.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Vanki ring isn’t just a piece of jewellery; it represents her cultural heritage, marital status, and protective talisman. Explore the rich history and significance of this traditional accessory, adored by women across South India and beyond. Fashion Lifestyle News -Fashion Trends, Beauty Tips, Celebrity Party News, Relationship advice, Travel and Food Tips
