Jhumka earrings are beautiful traditional Indian earrings. The word ‘jhumka’ comes from the Hindi word ‘jhumki’ which refers to the bell shaped earrings that are often worn by women in rural as well as urban India. While the size of the earrings may differ as also the metal it is crafted from, but the shape remains the same. The bell shaped extension of the earring hangs from the stud that is worn on the earlobe. Often the earrings have tiny decorative hangings at the end of the bell shape that jingle when moved.

Shopping for Jhumka Earrings

Shopping for this style of jewelry can be quite an adventure as most parts of India have unique designs for the jhumkas that are worn there. Traditionally, the jhumka earrings can be traced back to what is known as temple jewelry in South India and were designed especially for Bharatanatyam dancers. Today, of course you will find traditional as well as modern versions of the jhumkis.

The Size Matters

You can buy jhumkis in small as well as large sizes. They are often accompanied by a complementary necklace that features a similar design. A set like this is often worn for weddings and festive occasions. They are usually teamed up with traditional attire such as a saree. For a more extravagant look you could buy bigger sized jhumkas. They add panache to traditional clothing and are perfect for weddings and festive gatherings. Smaller sized jhumka earrings are perfect for daily wear and are often worn by young girls.

Metal of Your Choice

You can buy jhumkis in a wide range of metals including gold and silver. You may also want to consider those crafted from sterling silver and German silver. It is likely that you would want to buy several pairs of jhumkas to match the clothes in your wardrobe, and based the look you hope to achieve. Those from Rajasthan often feature beads and semi precious stones. You can also buy earrings that feature ‘meenakari’, ‘polki’ and ‘kundan’ work.

An Eclectic Mix

While jhumkis are considered traditional jewelry, designers often stylize them to suit contemporary and modern clothing. Oxidized earrings can be teamed up with jeans and tops. Shopping online for these earrings can be fun. You can buy inexpensive ones as well as gold and diamond jhumkis. Depending on the size and style of the earrings you can team them up with all types of clothing, traditional as well as modern.