KAMARBANDH (WEIST CHAIN)

A Kamarbandh or waist chain are the popular English terms for the Kamarband/Udiyanam, which 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".^[1] 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 dancers.
HISTORY

Use of waist chains can be traced back to 4000 years or more originating in India, as is the case with most jewelry, which are now becoming popular worldwide due to globalisation and the diffusion of Indian culture through diaspora and exposure to Indian media. Historically, waist chains have been used in Eastern countries, specifically India, by men and women, as ornaments and as part of religious ceremonies, as accessories and to show affluence.
WHY DO INDIAN WOMENS WEAR KAMARBANDH

n India, it is believed that waist chain or a belly chain brings in good energy and protect a woman from negative energies and perform spiritual healing. In some regions of India it is common among men as well wearing of waist chains. In Kerala, a State in India, where the Hindu children get a waist chain normally made in gold (Aranjanam) on the 28th day of their birth during a family ceremonial function.  A large volume of girls and a number of boys still continue to wear their hip chains as adults.

Meantime, there is also a tradition and cultural following among the Muslim Kerala woman, who wear a heavy hip chain over their clothes till their death as jewelry on a daily basis and is known as “Arapatta”.  Where as Christian girls and women are reluctant as there is some objections from the Bible. The Kardhani (Waist ornament) also known in North India as Kamarband is made of superior quality Silver, is worn by the married woman in their waist of their bear body.  This is believed to control the extra fat of belly from all the sides. The hip chain was indeed the exclusive ornament worn by the Gujarati woman of India and is now a purely fashion item among the Malayali woman of Kerala State in India.

However a hip thread (Black cotton thread) is seen more close to the Indian Tantric tradition known as “Nabhi Chakra” and the Mooladhar Chakra as it is believed that the Chakra traditionally is located at the navel or Nabhi. The Mooladhar Chakra is believed to be connected with the genital organs of a female and male, which should be protected from the evil spirits. Hence by wearing a silver or gold chain in the waist area will strengthen and not waste the Mooladhar energy in sexual passion.

In Africa most of the countries women of all ages still wear a hip chain and they say that it is to protect them selves from negative energy. They normally wear in the form of Jigida or beads below the belly and under their clothes in order to have a healing property and influence.

Whatever it be, the hip chain or waist chain is so romantic, fashionable and beautiful for a woman and will shape her hips by making the waist appear slimmer and bring the out bum-bum.

Seen in the pictures are woman having hip chains and the Indian Bollywood star and once a dream girl of Indians having a decorative hip chain in front of her audiences.

KAMARBANDH AS A FASHION STATMENT IN INDIA

Now a days waist chain has has also grown as a fashion statement but it can not be seen as a normal day to day jewelry worn by girls or womens .But you can see this jewelery on wedding time or during any belly dance ..