India is known for its intricate artwork, something which can be seen in jewelry too. There are several kinds of traditional jewelry artwork which is popular in India, one of which is temple jewelry.

Temple jewelry is believed to have originated somewhere in the 9th century during the reign of the Chola dynasty. Back then, this kind of jewelry was used to decorate the idols and Gods and Goddesses in temples, and hence, the name.

Traditional temple jewelry is made of finest gold and embedded with several precious gems and stones. Since this kind of traditional jewelry making originated in the south, particularly in Chennai, you can see a lot of traditional South Indian dancers wearing it during their performances.

In fact, there are quite a few really old families in Chennai who have carried on the legacy of making traditional temple jewelry.

However, temple jewelry in its true form is quite expensive, since it is made of gold and precious gems. That’s what prompted the rise of imitation temple jewelry.

Adorn your wardrobe with imitation temple jewelry

Imitation temple jewelry isn’t fake temple jewelry. Rather, it is authentic temple jewelry designs made of beads and metal other than silver and gold. Thus, with imitation temple jewelry, you get the intricacy of the traditional artwork without the exorbitant cost.

Temple jewelry designs

There are a variety of temple jewelry designs out there. Most often, you will find temple jewelry designs in motifs, dots or even ambiguous patterns. The designs are very intricate and very often, busy in nature. There are a whole range of ornaments available in temple jewelry designs.

There are temple jewelry earrings, temple jewelry pendants, temple jewelry chokers and a whole lot more.

Wearing temple jewelry

You will often notice South Indian women wearing temple jewelry designs on auspicious occasions such as marriages, festivals etc. The intricate nature of the designs makes them ideal for such occasions. You can team them up with traditional Indian sarees.

However, while wearing temple jewelry, it is best not to go with sarees that have very heavy work or embroideries.

The jewelry itself looks kind of heavy, and it works best with a somewhat understated saree.

Caring for your temple jewelry

Even though it is not made of gold and silver, there is still metal involved. Thus, your temple jewelry needs to be taken care of in order to prolong its life. As a thumb rule, avoid cleaning any kind of jewelry in the sink. Instead, make use of a bowl.

In order to clean your temple jewelry, use warm water and detergent in a bowl. Soak your jewelry in it and then brush it softly with an old toothbrush. Post that, take a sieve it and keep it under running water. Dry it with a soft cloth and your jewelry would be as good as new.