Gonda Nosepins

City of Gonda is located 120km north-east of Uttar Pradesh’s capital city, Lucknow. The city is named after the Sanskrit word “Gonarda”, meaning, a cow’s voice. The name comes from its past during the rule of raghukul of the solar dynasty. At that time people of Gonda housed thousands of cowsheds one after another for the mammal’s welfare and due to its religious significance. Although the city of Gonda, its neighbouring cities and the whole state, in general, is known for its strict religious practices and devotion to the culture, traces of different practices and religious approaches have been associated with the city.  In the recent past, Buddhist manuscript remains have also been found here, along the river Saraswati. This diversity in local people adds to the city’s prolific approach when it comes to everything art.

During the era of the Raghukul dynasty, gold jewellery was one of the favourites. Along with the exclusivity and its natural glow, its association with the sun was the prominent concept of the raghukula to adopt craftsmanship around gold. It became the signature wear of raghukul. Women from this dynasty wore golden nose pins embedded with precious local or tribal stones. Queen wore nose pins or nathni with most precious stones depicting the power they exercise over their people.

Gonda is known to reside tribals from, what is said, to be one of the largest tribal communities of India. This varying knowledge and practices led to the creation of nose pins made of tree barks. Despite the cultural differences and the distant walk of life, nose pins have crowned themselves as one of the most beloved treasures for women all around the nation.

Gonda and its nose pins history

The practice to exercise the nose pin wearing rituals are encouraged amongst youngsters as these hold a prominent belief within the studies and manuscripts of Ayurveda. It is said that the overall regulation of the ovulation cycle strengthens for a woman who duly wears nose pins. This is said to help women throughout their life to stay healthy. Such practices can still be seen in the Brahmin households of Gonda.

You can easily find nose rings and other jewellery crafted around gold in the city of Gonda. Gold is highly appreciated and holds a special place within the hearts of the locals, despite the gender. Solid gold nose pins, gold nose pins laced around precious stones are highly appreciated pieces of jewellery within the city. To this day, it is a custom for brides to flaunt their nose pins in Gonda.

Despite it being a smaller city than its close neighbour, Lucknow, Gonda has played a significant role in the history of India. Gonda can be easily overlooked as the city that sheltered Chandra Shekhar Azad during the nation’s fight for Independence. If we skip through centuries then there are prime mentions of the land of Gonda within Mahabharata. Events associated with the Kosala kingdom in Mahabharata in their quest with the Pandavas general Bhima can be said to have occurred on the turf of Gonda. There are several tales associated with the soil and they have since then shaped the city in its beliefs, crafts and art.

At present day, Gonda stays in touch with its past and cherishes it with its beautiful, cultural and exquisite designs in gold jewelry. Their gold nose pins come in various forms. You can see a diversity of collections within nose rings itself. From a selection of gold nose rings pecked with local, tribal and natural stones to nose rings studded with polki and diamonds can be easily acquired within the city.