Belly chain
Encyclopedia
A belly chain or waist chain is a type of body jewelry worn around the waist
. Some belly chains attach to a navel piercing
; these are also called "pierced belly chains". They are often made of silver
or gold
. Sometimes a thread is used around the waist instead of a chain.
A belly chain is a common adornment for belly dance
rs.
Belly chains are so common among the women in India, in some regions waist chains are also common among men as well. A 14th Century poetry indicates that waist chain has been a fashion for men (“The golden waist chain, and fine skirts, resting upon his rainbow waist, beautifully shining”). Namboothri men generally wear waist string even as adults, in some aristocratic families, Namboothiri men wore a flattened triple gold string around the waist. As a Hindu custom newborns get a waist chain (aranjanam) on the 28th day after their birth. In Kerala, a state in India, almost all newborns irrespective of the religious affiliation usually get a waist chain. Although many boys generally abandon waist chains during their teenage years, a large fraction of the girls and a sizable number of boys continue wear waist chains even as adults, consistent with the local traditions and culture. A follower of Lord Siva is expected to wear a chain, with Rudrakshas strung in a white chain with one hundred beads, around the waist. In Lakshdweep a silver thread is worn by both men and women. Dhodia and Kathodis are Katkari men use ornaments around the waist Because of cultural and religious traditions, waist chains became a fashion accessory for both women and men in many parts of the world.
Waist
The waist is the part of the abdomen between the rib cage and hips. On proportionate people, the waist is the narrowest part of the torso....
. Some belly chains attach to a navel piercing
Navel piercing
A navel piercing is a type of body piercing. It may heal very quickly and with no problems, like an ear piercing, or may heal more like a surface piercing with the associated extended healing time. Healing usually takes less than six months, and as long as it is cleaned, it will heal nicely...
; these are also called "pierced belly chains". They are often made of silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
or gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. Sometimes a thread is used around the waist instead of a chain.
A belly chain is a common adornment for belly dance
Belly dance
Belly dance or Bellydance is a "Western"-coined name for a traditional "Middle Eastern" dance, especially raqs sharqi . It is sometimes also called Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance in the West, or by the Greco-Turkish term çiftetelli...
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Historical Perspective
In the West, an increasing number of women including celebrity ladies are wearing waist ornaments for various reasons. Waist chains stayed primarily as a women's fashion accessory in the West, although there are notable exceptions like designer Devon Turnbull. Use of waist chains can be traced back to 4000 years or more. Historically, waist chains were used very commonly used in Eastern countries by both men and women, as a part of a religious ceremonies, as a fashion and to show affluence. Many ancient sculptures and paintings from various locations in India, dating back to the Indus Valley civilization, indicate that waist chains were a very popular jewelry. In Maldives, it was reported that scholars, magistrates and other influential people wore silver chains around their waists before 1680s. Sayyid Mohammed arrived in Male’ when he heard that Maldives was filled with what he called "forbidden practices", he banned men from wearing waist chains as part of his effort to remove superstition and heresy. Some men complied, in other cases chains were forcibly removed. Many deities in the Hindu religion, such as Lord Krishna, wore waist chains. A waistband called cummerbund or patka was a part of the medieval upper class costume of Rajasthanis.Belly chains are so common among the women in India, in some regions waist chains are also common among men as well. A 14th Century poetry indicates that waist chain has been a fashion for men (“The golden waist chain, and fine skirts, resting upon his rainbow waist, beautifully shining”). Namboothri men generally wear waist string even as adults, in some aristocratic families, Namboothiri men wore a flattened triple gold string around the waist. As a Hindu custom newborns get a waist chain (aranjanam) on the 28th day after their birth. In Kerala, a state in India, almost all newborns irrespective of the religious affiliation usually get a waist chain. Although many boys generally abandon waist chains during their teenage years, a large fraction of the girls and a sizable number of boys continue wear waist chains even as adults, consistent with the local traditions and culture. A follower of Lord Siva is expected to wear a chain, with Rudrakshas strung in a white chain with one hundred beads, around the waist. In Lakshdweep a silver thread is worn by both men and women. Dhodia and Kathodis are Katkari men use ornaments around the waist Because of cultural and religious traditions, waist chains became a fashion accessory for both women and men in many parts of the world.